Solander Point

Solander Point is the ridge on the right
North of Solander

Solander Point is at the north end of the west-southwestern ridgeline of Endeavour crater on the planet Mars. It is named after the Swedish scientist Daniel Solander, who was the first university-educated scientist to set foot on Australian soil at Botany Bay in 1770.

Solander Point is currently being visited and explored by the Mars Exploration Rover-B Opportunity, a robotic rover that has been active on Mars since 2004.

By early July 2013 Opportunity was approaching it from the North, after previously examining outcrops on the northwest edge of the crater, north of Solander.[1] The rover drove south from Cape York through Botany Bay to travel to Solander.[2] By July 2, 2013, it was about half-way there.[2] The area was imaged from Martian orbit by HiRISE on July 8, 2013, data which aids the rover team in understanding the terrain and planning rover traverses.[3] The rover has been making good time on its approach to Solander, giving the opportunity to investigate a curious area of terrain in the crater.[4][5] At the start of August, the rover was less than 100 meters (328 ft) from Solander,[6] and arrived at its base in the following days.[7] Its arrival signaled the availability of a northward facing slope, useful for angling to collect more sunlight during the Martian winter.[7] In October and November 2013, the rover climbed up the north end of Solander.[8]

This is a southward uphill view as the rover ascended the mountain in October 2013. It is assembled from NavCam images.[8]

References

  1. ↑ NASA - Sol 3351
  2. 1 2 Mars Rover Opportunity Passes Half-Way Point to Next Destination
  3. ↑ Overhead View of Mars Rover 10 Years After Launch - NASA
  4. ↑ The Planetary Society: L. Crumpler - Field Report From Mars: Sol 3363 - July 10, 2013
  5. ↑ Field Notes from Mars: Sol 3363 - July 10, 2013
  6. ↑ August 2, 2013 NNM August 2, 2013 TPS
  7. 1 2 NASA - Sol 33591
  8. 1 2 NASA -Mars Rover Opportunity Heads Uphill

External links

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