Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2019/02/17
Shadow of a Martian Robot
Image credits: Mars Exploration Rover Mission, JPL, NASA
What if you saw your shadow on Mars and it wasn't human? Then you might have been the Opportunity rover exploring Mars. Opportunity explored the red planet from 2004 to 2018, finding evidence of ancient water, and sending breathtaking images across the inner Solar System. Pictured here in 2004, Opportunity looks opposite the Sun into Endurance Crater and sees its own shadow. Two wheels are visible on the lower left and right, while the floor and walls of the unusual crater are visible in the background. Caught in a dust storm in 2018, last week NASA stopped trying to contact Opportunity and declared the ground-breaking mission, originally planned for only 92 days, complete.
Authors & editors: Robert J. nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry T. Bonnell (UMCP)
Web designed by Simon G. Kupisz, 2020
Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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