Google Mars: Following Opportunity

Homework 1_Remote Sensing

Julia Kahmann-Robinson PhD and Marjorie Chan PhD, University of Utah Department of Geology & Geophysics

Discussion/Questions

First things First

Download Google Earth to your computer: https://www.google.com/earth/versions/

In the icon list across the top of the window click on the planet with a single ring and a small dropdown arrow. You should see options for Sky, Mars, and Moon, click on Mars.

  1. Name the 5 types of spacecraft imagery available through Google Mars.
  2. What do the 5 acronyms stand for?

 

Understanding the Layers

Find Olympus Mons (see if you can find it without typing the name in the "fly to" box).

 

  1. What is the highest elevation according to Google (Find the appropriate Global Map Layer in order to determine this)?
  2. In the Global Maps Layer, besides the Visible Imagery, which imagery gives you the highest resolution of the volcano in you opinion? Why do you suppose this is?

 

Go to the Historic Maps layer

Describe who illustrated and when the map was illustrated for each of the map layers and what you see for each (1-2 sentences each). What supposed "discoveries" were made as a result of this 1962 map?

Go to the Rovers andLanders layer

 

  1. What are the current coordinates of the Phoenix Lander? Viking 2 Lander? Mars 3 Lander site?
  2. Where did MER Opportunity Rover land? (i.e. what crater?)
  3. What crater did it visit next?

 

Following Opportunity

 

  1. Look at the Burns Cliff panorama photo (Find the right camera icon can tell you this...you may have to click on a couple to figure out the right one)
  2. List 2 observations you can make about the photo (colors, shapes, lineations etc.)?
  3. Name 2 other craters the Opportunity rover explored.
  4. Write down (2) observations about what you see in the centers of Endurance and Victoria craters. Can you name the features? If so, what would you call them?
  5. Using the Traverse Path layer of the MER Opportunity Rover locate its position on Sol 1685 (sol=day). What annotated feature is it most near? (labeled named)
  6. With the Traverse Path layers still activated find Good Hope on Victoria Crater. What can you observe in the panoramic photo nearest Good Hope?