Opportunity Route Map Options

[Phil Stooke]

Another leap up the hill on sol 4624.

Phil

[Phil Stooke]

And an overview map showing progress so far up the hill. The rover is out of restricted sols and can drive every day now.

Phil

[Phil Stooke]

Another drive, turning south towards the exit point.

Phil

[Phil Stooke]

Another drive, only about 12 m today.

Phil

[Phil Stooke]

Nearly there!

Phil

[Phil Stooke]

Update to sol 4631 - we're finally in that last hollow area near the top of the hill, and it looks like fairly easy going. I was concerned that the summit ridge might be a loose drift.

Phil

[Phil Stooke]

Hold on tight, we're going over a bit of a hump in the road.

Phil

[climber]

One more drive to get to the 44 kms mark right? Why not tomorrow for the UNMSF's 12th birthday?

[Phil Stooke]

I'm not sure exactly where that will happen.

A closeup for the exit route, sol 4636.

Phil

[Phil Stooke]

OK, Earthlings, if we just take the drive distance and direction reported by Midnight Planets at face value we should be here:



(EDIT - replaced with an updated map, better positions)

Right on the rim. Unfortunately the lack of forward-facing images (as I write this) makes it impossible for me to verify that assertion. But I'll make it anyway.

EDIT - I have updated my recent positions using a new map from Larry Crumpler's Field Reports from Mars. That pulls the latest position (still not on his map) down a bit, fitting the new images better.

The name 'York' on the previous map was a cut and paste error, now removed.

Phil

[Phil Stooke]

A small move on sol 4635 to position the arm workspace over a little chunk of rock called Boonville.

Phil

[Phil Stooke]

With a 12 m drive on sol 4659, we have left the crater's inner slope!

Phil

[Phil Stooke]

4660 - a sprint to the south along the rim.

Phil

[Phil Stooke]

A while ago I mentioned in this thread to look out for a big announcement concerning Opportunity route maps. Well, it took longer than I expected but finally I can make that announcement.

I have collected a set of maps following the whole path from Eagle crater to the exit from Endeavour, sols 1 to 4600. Well, not quite the exit, but close to it. These are maps from my Mars Atlas (up to sol 3700) and from new work since then, including maps released here. I have assembled them in an ebook which - as of today - is available from the Kobo store. Just go to www.kobo.com and search for my name and you will find it.

It's only maps, apart from a half page introduction. They are best viewed on a tablet, or I suppose a desktop ebook reader. The file is .epub format, which probably can't be read on a Kindle but can on lots of other e-readers. On a tablet the maps can be expanded and scrolled around to follow the path of the rover. No text, no photos, just maps, but I hope it will be a handy guide to the travels of our plucky little rover. And a lot cheaper than my big books. Because the book consists only of images it's quite a big file, so if you want it, be in a place with a good wifi connection!

Of course, now the book is out of date again... by a few sols. I will update the file from time to time, once each year or two. If this works out well I will do Spirit and Curiosity as well, and maybe other topics I can draw on from my vast collection of files.

Phil

[Phil Stooke]

Update to sol 4664, with a drive shaped to avoid obstacles.

Phil