Pancam Multispectral Imaging Results from the Spirit Rover at Gusev Crater

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1100175
• Publication Date: 2004-08-05T20:18:15Z
• Authors: J. F. Bell; S. W. Squyres; R. E. Arvidson; H. M. Arneson; D. Bass; D. Blaney; N. Cabrol; W. Calvin; J. Farmer; W. H. Farrand; W. Goetz; M. Golombek; J. A. Grant; R. Greeley; E. Guinness; A. G. Hayes; M. Y. H. Hubbard; K. E. Herkenhoff; M. J. Johnson; J. R. Johnson; J. Joseph; K. M. Kinch; M. T. Lemmon; R. Li; M. B. Madsen; J. N. Maki; M. Malin; E. McCartney; S. McLennan; H. Y. McSween; D. W. Ming; J. E. Moersch; R. V. Morris; E. Z. Noe Dobrea; T. J. Parker; J. Proton; J. W. Rice; F. Seelos; J. Soderblom; L. A. Soderblom; J. N. Sohl-Dickstein; R. J. Sullivan; M. J. Wolff; A. Wang
• Keywords: Pyroxene; Opacity; Albedo (alchemy)

Panoramic Camera images at Gusev crater reveal a rock-strewn surface interspersed with high- to moderate-albedo fine-grained deposits occurring in part as drifts or small circular swales hollows. Optically thick coatings of ferric iron-rich dust dominate most bright soil and rock surfaces. Spectra some darker surfaces regions exposed by brushing grinding show near-infrared spectral signatures consistent the presence mafic silicates such pyroxene olivine. Atmospheric observations steady decline opacity during mission, astronomical captured solar transits martian moons, Phobos Deimos, well view Earth from surface.