PIA05756: 'RAT' Leaves a Fine Mess
 Target Name:  Mars
 Is a satellite of:  Sol (our sun)
 Mission:  Mars Exploration Rover (MER)
 Spacecraft:  Opportunity
 Instrument:  Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer 
 Product Size:  792 x 612 pixels (w x h)
 Produced By:  JPL
 Full-Res TIFF:  PIA05756.tif (1.458 MB)
 Full-Res JPEG:  PIA05756.jpg (71.05 kB)

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Original Caption Released with Image:

This graph shows the light signatures, or spectra, of two sides of the rock dubbed "Bounce," located at Meridiani Planum, Mars. The spectra were taken by the miniature thermal emission spectrometer on the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. The left side of this rock is covered by fine dust created when the rover drilled into the rock with its rock abrasion tool. These "fines" produce a layer of pyroxene dust that can be detected here in the top spectrum. The right side of the rock has fewer fines and was used to investigate the composition of this basaltic rock.

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL/Cornell/ASU

Image Addition Date:
2004-04-14