[X] My Assistant

[Floyd]

Well, since Opportunity has left Victoria Crater, it is time for a new thread.
To the next phase of exploration. May she find exotic cobbles and visit exciting new craters.
-Floyd

[Tesheiner]

This is in the imaging plan for sol 1648 (tomorrow):
01648::p2446::18::16::16::0::0::2::34::pancam_cobble_field_L257R2

First target maybe?

[PaulM]

The following 3rd September Opportunity Update talked about where the rover would drive to next:

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/sta...tml#opportunity

I do not think that this update has been discussed yet in UMSF.

This Update said:

"...The rover also acquired images of a planned study area known as "Bright Spot" because of the large amount of sunlight reflected from its surface..."

The Update also said:

"...Sol 1639:...Opportunity took images of "Bright Patch Two" with the panoramic camera..."

Is it possible that "Bright Patch 2" is part of "Bright Spot"? This seems to be the PANCAM photo of "Bright Spot 2" that is being referred to:

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all...OYP2571L2M1.JPG

The way that I read the Update, "Bright Patch 2" and "Bright Spot" are new targets several meters away from Opportunity's current location and are not simply located on the large sand ripple on the rim of Victoria? Does the direction of Bright Spot give any indication as to whether Opportunity will be travelling North, South, East or West next?

[jamescanvin]

The way that I read the Update, "Bright Patch 2" and "Bright Spot" are new targets several meters away from Opportunity's current location and are not simply located on the large sand ripple on the rim of Victoria? Does the direction of Bright Spot give any indication as to whether Opportunity will be travelling North, South, East or West next?

I'm not sure, "Bright Patch 2" is as your image link shows, right in front of Oppy. Could "Bright Spot" be the "bright_dust" sequence taken on sol 1641:

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all...4P2442R2M1.HTML

The drive yestersol (1648) was a short one in this direction, so this looks like it may be the next target. (Next drive is tomorrowsol (1650))