Mars Rover Opportunity Checking out its Surroundings Sol 2926 - April 17, 2012

Credit: NASA / JPL / Cornell / composite by Errol Coder

 This turned into an unsual color composite. Using filters L2, L6, and L7, we get a false color images of tracks in the surface. It shows how the treads distrube the top soil, revealing the reddish Mars tent beneath. In reality he ground does not have the blue ting to it, but is rather a black/dark brown. 

In this image processing, many of the brighter areas also take on the blue hue, including the small stone near the treads, and the outcropping of Basalt minteral you see on the lower left. The basalt you see is quit similar to the rocky outcroppings you might see on Earth's moon. In this view the Pancam is looking nearly directing behind the Rover.

Credit: NASA / JPL / Cornell / composite by Errol Coder

What you see here is the Pancam looking down at the bottom edge of one of the Solar Array, and an engineering access panel below it. The color here takes a a more redder hue then in reality, but helps to show the differences between the gathered soil on the array and equipment, and the darker surface of the rover itself.

Filters L2, L5, and L7

Credit: NASA / JPL / Cornell / composite by Errol Coder

Just above the rover in respect to the above image on the upper edge of the Solar array, you find the Sun Dial, with the four color calibration pallets on the four corners. They are used to calibrate the Pancam prior to any Panorama image capture.

Credit: NASA / JPL / Cornell / composite by Errol Coder

Using filters L2, L5, and L7 we see a composite looking forward on the Opportunity Rover with the Pancam looking down at its articulating arm. The device at the end of it is the Micro Imager. In this image you can see a contrast between on Sol 2904 the different hues of the red soil as well as the darker more blackish material frequently found on the surface