EL VELLOCINO DE ORO || Opportunity View of 'Private Joseph Field' on Mars | NASA

Opportunity View of 'Private Joseph Field' on Mars | NASA

Opportunity View of 

'Private Joseph Field' on Mars

This image of a target called "Private Joseph Field" combines four images from the microscopic imager on the robotic arm of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity, with enhanced color information added from the rover's panoramic camera.

Figure A is a version without the added color information.

This target is within the "Marathon Valley" area of the western rim of Endeavour Crater. The component images were taken on May 29, 2016, during the 4,389th Martian day, or sol, of Opportunity's work on Mars. The mosaic shows an area spanning about 2 inches (5 centimeters).

Geochemical data indicate the presence of magnesium and iron sulfates at this location, most likely corresponding to the white pebble visible near the center of the image. These sulfates may have formed by the interaction of acidic fluids with the rocks along the rim of Endeavour crater.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/USGS/ASU

Last Updated: Dec. 7, 2016

Editor: Tony Greicius