Shadow of a Martian Robot
AI Summary1 min read
TL;DR
The Opportunity rover, which explored Mars from 2004 to 2018, captured its own shadow in Endurance Crater in 2004, providing evidence of ancient water. The mission ended in 2019 after a dust storm, far exceeding its original 92-day plan.
Shadow of a Martian Robot
Image Credit: NASA, JPL, Mars Exploration Rover Mission
Explanation: What if you saw your shadow on Mars and it wasn't human? Then you might be 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, Opportunity stopped responding, and NASA stopped trying to contact it in 2019 and declared the ground-breaking mission, originally planned for only 92 days, complete.