Astronomy Picture of the Day 01-05-04

NASA ^ | 01-05-04 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell

[petuniasevan]

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2004 January 5

Spirit Pan from Gusev Crater
Credit: Mars Exploration Rover Mission, JPL, NASA

Explanation: After a seven month voyage of nearly 500 million kilometers through interplanetary space, NASA's Spirit Rover has reached the surface of Mars. Scroll right and see a mosaic panorama of Spirit's first images returned from its landing site in Gusev Crater! Taken by Spirit's navigation camera, the panorama covers 360 degrees, with the spacecraft in the foreground and the floor of Gusev Crater, thought to be an ancient lake bed, extending to the horizon. The entry, descent, and landing phase of Spirit's mission - referred to by mission planners as "Six Minutes of Terror" - began Saturday night around 8:30pm PST as Spirit entered the martian atmosphere at about 20,000 kilometers per hour. Updates on Spirit's status will be posted throughout the day.

[petuniasevan]

MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2004
0502 GMT (12:02 a.m. EST)

The Spirit rover's high-gain antenna has been unlocked and deployed, officials confirm! Shaped like a giant lollipop, this antenna on the top of the rover is the primary route for higher-speed communications from Spirit to Earth. The first use of the antenna to beam information to Mission Control is expected shortly.

NASA reprocessed the above panorama to yield an "impossible" overhead shot:

[Support Free Republic]

Here we go again folks... why not donate now and help get this fundraiser over with!

[petuniasevan]

michael miserable failure moore hillary evil bitch clinton al sore loser gore bill lying rapist clinton

michael miserable failure moore hillary evil bitch clinton al sore loser gore bill lying rapist clinton

[Soaring Feather]

It's so very exciting.

[theDentist]

I got dibs for a log cabin on the southern edge of that mountain on the horizon!

[foolish-one]

So nice to come back from two weeks off to the aesthetics and education that you provide. What a wonderful service you perform. Thank you.

[petuniasevan]

You are very welcome. :-)