Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 3 December 2004:
Vol. 306. no. 5702, pp. 1703 - 1709
DOI: 10.1126/science.1105245
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Research Articles

Pancam Multispectral Imaging Results from the Opportunity Rover at Meridiani Planum

J. F. Bell, III,1* S. W. Squyres,1 R. E. Arvidson,2 H. M. Arneson,1 D. Bass,3 W. Calvin,4 W. H. Farrand,5 W. Goetz,6 M. Golombek,3 R. Greeley,7 J. Grotzinger,8 E. Guinness,2 A. G. Hayes,1 M. Y. H. Hubbard,1 K. E. Herkenhoff,9 M. J. Johnson,1 J. R. Johnson,9 J. Joseph,1 K. M. Kinch,10 M. T. Lemmon,11 R. Li,12 M. B. Madsen,6 J. N. Maki,3 M. Malin,13 E. McCartney,1 S. McLennan,14 H. Y. McSween, Jr.,15 D. W. Ming,16 R. V. Morris,16 E. Z. Noe Dobrea,1 T. J. Parker,3 J. Proton,1 J. W. Rice, Jr.,7 F. Seelos,2 J. M. Soderblom,1 L. A. Soderblom,9 J. N. Sohl-Dickstein,1 R. J. Sullivan,1 C. M. Weitz,17 M. J. Wolff5

Panoramic Camera (Pancam) images from Meridiani Planum reveal a low-albedo, generally flat, and relatively rock-free surface. Within and around impact craters and fractures, laminated outcrop rocks with higher albedo are observed. Fine-grained materials include dark sand, bright ferric iron–rich dust, angular rock clasts, and millimeter-size spheroidal granules that are eroding out of the laminated rocks. Spectra of sand, clasts, and one dark plains rock are consistent with mafic silicates such as pyroxene and olivine. Spectra of both the spherules and the laminated outcrop materials indicate the presence of crystalline ferric oxides or oxyhydroxides. Atmospheric observations show a steady decline in dust opacity during the mission. Astronomical observations captured solar transits by Phobos and Deimos and time-lapse observations of sunsets.

1 Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853, USA.
2 Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
3 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA.
4 Department of Geological Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89501, USA.
5 Space Science Institute, Boulder, CO 80301, USA.
6 University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
7 Department of Geological Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
8 Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
9 U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA.
10 Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
11 Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
12 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
13 Malin Space Science Systems Inc., San Diego, CA 92191, USA.
14 Department of Geosciences, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
15 Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
16 NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058, USA.
17 Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jfb8{at}cornell.edu

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Evidence for Water at Meridiani.
B. L. Jolliff, S. M. McLennan, and the Athena Science Team (2006)
Elements 2, 163-167
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A Martian analog in Kansas: Comparing Martian strata with Permian acid saline lake deposits.
K. C. Benison (2006)
Geology 34, 385-388
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Cracks and fins in sulfate sand: Evidence for recent mineral-atmospheric water cycling in Meridiani Planum outcrops?.
G. V. Chavdarian and D. Y. Sumner (2006)
Geology 34, 229-232
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The visible and infrared spectral properties of jarosite and alunite.
J. L. Bishop and E. Murad (2005)
American Mineralogist 90, 1100-1107
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Spectral Reflectance and Morphologic Correlations in Eastern Terra Meridiani, Mars.
R. E. Arvidson, F. Poulet, J.-P. Bibring, M. Wolff, A. Gendrin, R. V. Morris, J. J. Freeman, Y. Langevin, N. Mangold, and G. Bellucci (2005)
Science 307, 1591-1594
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Opportunity Rover's Athena Science Investigation at Meridiani Planum, Mars.
S. W. Squyres, R. E. Arvidson, J. F. Bell III, J. Bruckner, N. A. Cabrol, W. Calvin, M. H. Carr, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, L. Crumpler, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1698-1703
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
In Situ Evidence for an Ancient Aqueous Environment at Meridiani Planum, Mars.
S. W. Squyres, J. P. Grotzinger, R. E. Arvidson, J. F. Bell III, W. Calvin, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, J. A. Crisp, W. H. Farrand, K. E. Herkenhoff, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1709-1714
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Soils of Eagle Crater and Meridiani Planum at the Opportunity Rover Landing Site.
L. A. Soderblom, R. C. Anderson, R. E. Arvidson, J. F. Bell III, N. A. Cabrol, W. Calvin, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, T. Economou, B. L. Ehlmann, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1723-1726
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Evidence from Opportunity's Microscopic Imager for Water on Meridiani Planum.
K. E. Herkenhoff, S. W. Squyres, R. Arvidson, D. S. Bass, J. F. Bell III, P. Bertelsen, B. L. Ehlmann, W. Farrand, L. Gaddis, R. Greeley, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1727-1730
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Localization and Physical Property Experiments Conducted by Opportunity at Meridiani Planum.
R. E. Arvidson, R. C. Anderson, P. Bartlett, J. F. Bell III, P. R. Christensen, P. Chu, K. Davis, B. L. Ehlmann, M. P. Golombek, S. Gorevan, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1730-1733
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Mineralogy at Meridiani Planum from the Mini-TES Experiment on the Opportunity Rover.
P. R. Christensen, M. B. Wyatt, T. D. Glotch, A. D. Rogers, S. Anwar, R. E. Arvidson, J. L. Bandfield, D. L. Blaney, C. Budney, W. M. Calvin, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1733-1739
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Atmospheric Imaging Results from the Mars Exploration Rovers: Spirit and Opportunity.
M. T. Lemmon, M. J. Wolff, M. D. Smith, R. T. Clancy, D. Banfield, G. A. Landis, A. Ghosh, P. H. Smith, N. Spanovich, B. Whitney, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1753-1756
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)