[X] My Assistant

[Guest_Sunspot_*]

Spirit has moved on from the rock "Peace"

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/re...JHP1312R0M1.JPG

[dot.dk]

Go for that lookout

[mars_armer]

They must be getting close to Larry's Lookout. Another good drive and they should get around the corner and be able to see up the Tennessee Valley.

Quick and dirty panorama:

[john_s]

They must be getting close to Larry's Lookout.  Another good drive and they should get around the corner and be able to see up the Tennessee Valley.

Quick and dirty panorama:

This is a historic moment- for the first time since Spirit approached the hills, it can see over the saddle to the east, and get a glimpse the Gusev rim beyond. The view should really open up soon.

[lyford]

This is a historic moment- for the first time since Spirit approached the hills, it can see over the saddle to the east, and get a glimpse the Gusev rim beyond. The view should really open up soon.

Which will be timed perfectly to coincide with a dust storm reducing visiblity to 3 meters...

"no really - this would be an awesome view if it would clear up!"

[john_s]

"no really - this would be an awesome view if it would clear up!"

You must go hiking in England a lot...

[azstrummer]

I really don't think getting to Larry's Leap that Spirit is going to have a view to the East of the hills. It's simply an intermediate point up the hills. Have the feeling once we get through that saddle it's going to be apparent that there's plenty of hill left to go. You simply can't see cause it's blocked by the ridge in front of them. The view back to the west is getting better and better though.

[mars_armer]

I disagree, azstrummer. Take a look at this slope map:

I think the view in this map is to the east-southeast. I can't vouch for the accuracy of the path I drew, but I think we're getting near the "x" on the left. At this point, most of Husband Hill is now to our southeast, and I think we'll be getting to an elevation where we will have views to the east-northeast (along the left edge of the slope map).

Also check out this 3D view. It sure looks like we're almost to the top of a saddle on the upper right.

[alan]

Spirit has found a new science target
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/fo...K1P1214L0M1.JPG

[Pando]

That's "Alligator" I believe...

[djellison]

DEEP rat hole....

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/mi...HPP2957M2M1.JPG

Doug

[Nix]

I like rat holes! I attached an anaglyph of Spirit's current location from MOC files and was wondering what Spirit will do AFTER the Panoramic view on top of Husband Hill. Take a good look at the valley below, if possible..., back down into the crater below. I'd really like a visit in the crater; the southern valley-facing rim of the crater seems to have some sort of gullies or landslide marks.
If Spirit keeps up long enough there's so much to see here, but I do hope he makes it to the valley below.

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[Nix]

Original File of Anaglyph;

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[azstrummer]

I'll certainly concede that views will exist to the Northeast. It just sounded to me like people were implying we're almost to the peak of Husband Hill and a view over the other side of the Columbia Hills. There's a long way to go until the view to the east opens up. I do love the progress they're making in the last few sols though. They're taking the slopes on in a much more direct path and it seems slippage is at a minimum. Latest views back towards the lander show a lot more dust on the horizon. Hopefully with that dust comes some strong winds that will clean the panels a bit.

[mars_armer]

Yeah, there's definitely a long way to go to the top of Husband Hill. Here's my amateur panorama from yesterday's navcam images:

It gives you a sense of the climb still ahead on the left.

Nevertheless, it's pretty exciting to be approaching the ridge, where truly new vistas should start opening up. I've been looking foward to these views since we approached the hills ages ago.