Astronomy Picture of the Day

Explanation: Remarkably, the Opportunity Mars rover lies in a small martian impact crater about 3 metres deep and 22 metres wide. For 360 degrees, Opportunity's horizon stretches to the right in this new colour mosaic image from the rover's panoramic camera. Notable in this view of the generally dark, smooth terrain are surface imprints left by the lander's airbags and an outcropping of light-coloured, layered rock about 8 metres away toward the northwest. Though they look imposing, the rocks in the tantalizing outcrop are only a few centimetres high and will be dwarfed by the cart-sized rover itself during future close-up investigations. Opportunity has now rolled off its lander and, along with the restored Spirit rover, is directly exploring the martian surface.