Animated Elevation Model Of Victoria Crater

MARSDAILY

Model image of Victoria Crater, Mars. Credit: NASA.

by Staff Writers
Pasadena CA (JPL) Sep 11, 2006
After driving more than 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) from the site where it landed in January 2004, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity approached "Victoria Crater" in September 2006. The crater is about 750 meters (half a mile) across.

That is about six times wider than "Endurance Crater," which Opportunity spent six months examining in 2004, and about 35 times wider than "Eagle Crater," where Opportunity first landed.

The walls of Victoria hold the scientific allure of much taller stacks of geological layers -- providing the record of a longer span of the area's environmental history -- than Opportunity has been able to inspect on the Meridiani plains or at smaller craters.

This animation created by the U.S. Geological Survey uses a digital elevation model generated from computer analysis of three images taken by the Mars Orbiter Camera aboard NASA's Mars Global Surveyor orbiter.

The vertical dimension is not exaggerated relative to the horizonal dimensions. The crater is about 70 meters (230 feet) deep.

The images used for providing the stereo information to calculate relative elevation were taken on Feb. 1, 2004, Feb. 15, 2004 and April 16, 2005.

The animation begins and ends with the view looking from the northwest toward the southeast. Opportunity is approaching Victoria from the northwest.

MARSDAILY

NASA Rover Nears Martian Bowl Goal

Pasadena CA (JPL) Sep 07, 2006
NASA's Mars rover Opportunity is closing in on what may be the grandest overlook and richest science trove of its long mission. During the next two weeks, the robotic geologist is likely to reach the rim of a hole in the Martian surface wider and deeper than any it has visited. The crater, known as "Victoria," is approximately 750 meters (half a mile) wide and 70 meters (230 feet) deep.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT Trauma Expert Crusades For Changes In Disaster Preparedness And Recovery China To Build Earthquake Warning System At Three Gorges Reservoir Area Interview: Katrina Lessons Learned Katrina Response A 'Systemic Failure': Former US Emergency Response Chief	CLIMATE SCIENCE Climate Change Rocked Cradles Of Civilization Precision Climate Modeling Is Forecast Siberian Lakes Burp Time-Bomb Greenhouse Gas Greenhouse Gas Bubbling From Melting Permafrost Feeds Climate Warming
EARTH OBSERVATION Smoke Plume Dispersal From The World Trade Center Disaster DMC International Imaging Wins 2nd Year Contract To Monitor Amazonian Rainforest What Is It Like To Be On A NASA Hurricane Mission Renewed Volcanic Activity At The Phlegrean Fields Tracked By Envisat	ENERGY TECH Moscow Mayor Says Winter Energy Deficit Could Reach 20 Percent Fresh Declines For Oil Prices As Iran Fears Recede Schwarzenegger Ready To Sign Bill Limiting Greenhouse Gas Emissions Protesters Aim To Shut Down British Power Station
EPIDEMICS Satellites Track Migratory Birds In Fight Against Avian Influenza Cancer Surge Overwhelming AIDS-Crisis Botswana Africa Braces For New, Deadly, TB Strains Viruses Can Jump Between Primates And Humans	FLORA AND FAUNA NASA Study Solves Ocean Plant Mystery Virus May Control Carp The Australian River Rabbit Ocean Seep Mollusks May Share Evolutionary History With Other Deep-Sea Creatures Genetic Surprise Confirms Neglected 70-Year-Old Evolutionary Theory
FROTH AND BUBBLE Five dead, 6,000 Poisoned In Ivory Coast Toxic Waste Disaster Analysis: No Room For Shangri-La In China Over 2000 Feared To Have Lead Poisoning In China Environmental Pollution Costs China 64 Billion Dollars In 2004	ABOUT US Modern Humans, Not Neandertals, May Be Evolution's 'Odd Man Out' How Did Our Ancestors' Minds Really Work Ancient Rock Art In Australia Threatened By Major Gas Project Well Educated More Interested In Designing Babies

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement