This page contains a large number of the Mars Pathfinder images. Additional information
can be found at the following locations:
- deimos.gif: Deimos
- This image shows Mars' smaller moon, Deimos, as
it appeared to Mars Pathfinder on its third night after landing. Deimos
is actually only about two IMP pixels across -- it looks bigger because
a set of low resolution, compressed images (that is, they were blurry) was
returned to Earth. Observations of Deimos are used to determine its spectrum
and composition. Deimos is difficult to observe from Earth or the Hubble
Space Telescope because it is always very close to Mars.
- suns.gif: Sun Observations
- Our observations of the Sun using the IMP camera
showed more dust in the martian atmosphere than was expected. In fact, the
amount of dust ("optical depth" of 0.4, to scientists) was comparable
to Viking observations during clear (non-dust-storm) times. The measurements
were made by taking images of the Sun with different colors and with the
Sun at different elevations in the sky. As the Sun goes lower in the sky
the light passes through more and more dust, becoming fainter and fainter,
and allowing the amount of dust to be measured.
- sunset.gif: Sunset
- On Mars, the dust intercepts essentially the same
amount of sunlight in different colors. The reddish color of the sky is
because the blue light is absorbed by the dust, but the red light is scattered
throughout the sky. By contrast, the molecules in the Earth's atmosphere
intercept about as much of the blue sunlight as the Mars dust does, because
blue light is scattered easily by Earth's atmosphere (and red light is not,
giving the Earth its blue sky).
In future days, scientists will monitor the amount
of dust in the atmosphere, and they will try to measure absorption by water
vapor with a similar technique. Using other observations of the sky, scientists
will measure the size and shape of the dust particles and try to determine
how high in the atmosphere the dust extends. On some days, IMP will perform
a cloud search, looking for clouds passing over the landing site. The Hubble
Space Telescope will also observe Mars on some of the same days, so large
clouds--if they are present--may be seen simultaneously from the Earth and
from Mars.
- 81314_full.jpg: Sojourner in Contact With Yogi
- Sojourner has made contact with the rock Yogi in this image, taken with
the Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP) at 8:45 p.m. PDT on Sol 6. The rover's
left rear wheel has driven up onto the Yogi's surface in an attempt to get
as close as possible to the rock's surface. Sojourner will later use its
Alpha Proton X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) instrument to conduct a study of
Yogi's chemical composition.
- 81315_full.jpg:
- A view from the Sojourner rover's rear color camera showing wheel tracks
in the orange-red martian soil.
- 81316_full.jpg:
- Another color image from the rover with a close-up view of Yogi.
- 81325_full.jpg:
- One of Sojourner's two front cameras took this image of the Sagan Memorial
Station on Sol 6. The lander and its deployed rear ramp are at upper left,
while several large rocks appear at center. Sojourner was near the large
rock Yogi when this image was taken.
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- landsitemos.jpg: Landing Site Mosaic
- The latest pinpointing of the Mars Pathfinder Landing Site.
- 81126_full.jpg: The Monster Panorama
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- 81078_full.jpg:
- The large rock seen in the background of this image is Yogi. The front right
rock has been plowed by the rover, and deformation by the rover wheel is
evident.
- 81083_full.jpg:
- The same rock seen at lower right in the previous image is seen here with
a rover wheel in the foreground for comparison.
- 81084_full.jpg:
- This area of soil in front of Yogi will be investigated by the Alpha Proton
X-Ray Spectrometer.
- 81085_full.jpg:
- This image of Yogi was taken in poor lighting conditions. Scientists have
planned to image Yogi in better light in order study its texture close up.
- 81086_full.jpg:
- This red color image of the rover wheel was taken prior to soil mechanics
tests.
- 81087_full.jpg:
- This is a red-color image of the rover wheel and the indentation that the
wheel has made on the soil.
- 81088_full.jpg:
- The APXS is shown in the end of Sol 4 image of the rover placed against
the soil at the base of Yogi.
- 81092_full.jpg:
- A portion of the color "monster panorama" showing the front (or
left) ramp and part of the low-gain antenna.
- 81093_full.jpg:
- Here we see Wedge and Flat Top imaged in color as part of the "monster
panorama".
- 81094_full.jpg:
- A color version of the image of the rover as it left the rear (or right)
ramp.
- 81095_full.jpg:
- Yogi in the background of the image. The light colored rim of material in
front of Yogi may possibly be evaporation deposits from ancient water puddled
on the surface.
- 81096_full.jpg:
- In the foreground are the airbags, and to the left are more hypothesized
evaportion deposits.
- 81097_full.jpg:
- Casper, the light colored rock in the middle left of this image, is a prime
target for the APXS. The disturbed soil in the lower right of this image
was caused by the retraction of the airbags.
- 81098_full.jpg:
- Rocks and intersting textures of the Martian surface are imaged above.
- 81099_full.jpg:
- The large rock to the upper right of the airbags in this image, appears
to be riddled with many cracks.
- 81101_full.jpg:
- The Atmospheric Structure/Meterology Instrument mast is standing straight
up in this image. The wind socks are hanging vertically, indicating that
the winds are light. ASI/MET scientists report that winds measurements have
yet to exceed 10 mph. The apprent offset of the mast in this image is caused
by parallax.
- 80897_full.jpg:
- These are the tracks created by the Sojurner Rover as it maneuvered toward
"Barnacle Bill". This rock was the first examined by the Alpha
Proton X-Ray Spectrometer.
- 81000_full.jpg: Barnacle Bill
- This image shows the Sojurner Rover conducting its examination of "Barnacle
Bill" with the APXS. The images was taken by the fully deployed (1.8
meters) IMP camera.
- 81003_full.jpg:
- This is one of the first images taken by one of the three forward-facing
rover cameras. It shows the partially deflated airbags and, in the upper
right corner, the high gain antenna.
- 81006_full.jpg: Flat Top
- In this image is the rectangular rock dubbed "Flat Top" by Pathfinder
scientists. The surface of this rock appears to be covered by dust.
- 81007_full.jpg: Twin Peaks
- The two hills in the distance, approximately one to two kilometers away,
have been dubbed the "Twin Peaks" and are of great interest to
Pathfinder scientists as objects of future study. The white areas on the
left hill, called the "Ski Run" by scientists, may have been formed
by hydrologic processes.
- 81008_full.jpg: Sojourner
- Sojourner is visible in this image, one of the first taken by the deployed
Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP) on Sol 3. The rover has moved from this
position into one that later facilitated its using the Alpha Proton X-Ray
Spectrometer (APXS) instrument on Barnacle Bill. The APXS, located at the
rear of the rover, is not visible in this image.
- 81009_full.jpg: Yogi Rock
- Yogi, a rock taller than rover Sojourner, is the subject of this image,
taken by the deployed Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP) on Sol 3. The soil
in the foreground will be the location of multiple soil mechanics experiments
performed by Sojourner's cleated wheels. Pathfinder scientists will be able
to control the force inflicted on the soil beneath the rover's wheels, giving
them insight into the soil's mechanical properties.
- 81010_full.jpg: Couch Rock
- This new view of the rock dubbed "Couch" was taken by the deployed
Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP) on Sol 3. Earlier images, taken by the
undeployed IMP, hinted that Couch was balanced upon the rectangular rock
approximately three-quarters of the way up from the bottom of the image.
The deployed IMP, standing 1.8 meters above the Martian surface, has now
revealed Couch to be a free-standing object positioned at the Martian horizon.
- 81015_full.jpg:
- Portions of Sojourner's Alpha Proton X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS), a deployment
spring, and the rock Barnacle Bill are visible in this color image. The
image was taken by Sojourner's rear camera, and shows that the APXS made
good contact with Barnacle Bill.
- 80893_full.jpg:
- Taken on July 5, this image shows portions of the high gain antenna, a petal,
and the retracted airbags. Geologists are eager to examine the rocks of
the Ares Vallis terrain. As predicted, the landing site has provided a grab
bag of diverse rock types and sizes.
- 80894_full.jpg:
- This image was taken on July 5 by the IMP camera. The flat, table-like rock
appears to be covered with dust. The rock also displays many interesting
linear features. The large rocks in the background are intriguing because
of their impressive textures.
- 80895_full.jpg:
- This image of the rear (or right) ramp was taken by the IMP camera on July
5, 1997. This ramp was used to deploy the rover.
- 80896_full.jpg:
- Both the front and rear rover deployment ramps have been deployed. This
image shows the front (or left) ramp. The ramps both measure 1 m in length.
- 80900_full.jpg:
- This image was taken by the IMP camera before the rover ramps were deployed.
The smaller rock in the left portion of the image, named Barnacle Bill,
will be the first rock examined by the rover's Alpha Proton X-Ray Spectrometer
(APXS).
- 80901_full.jpg:
- In the front left of this image is the site of the first measurements taken
by the APXS. Over the cold martian night, the rover examined this soil and
will transmit the data back to Earth via the lander later this afternoon,
July 6.
- 80903_full.jpg:
- This image shows the diversity of rocks at the Ares Vallis site. The large
rocks seem to lean in a uniform direction (imbrication). This observation
suggests that catastrophic floods once ran through the site. Seen on the
horizon is a faint peak.
- 80904_full.jpg:
- Named Twin Peaks, the formation of two hills in the background are of
extreme geological interest. The left hill has a smooth apron which may
have been caused by gravitational processes or water. The hill on the right
seems to have horizontal bands running through it. As of yet unidentified,
the bands may be deposits, sedimentary layers, or terraces cut by erosion.
The twin peaks in the distant are approximately 1 mile from the Sagan
Memorial Station. The rocks in the foreground are very diverse. Some are
rounded and suggest transport by water, others are tabular and angular and
indicate non-aqueous deposition. Preliminary hypotheses by Pathfinder geologists
are that the angular rocks were thrown from ancient, nearby impact crater
sites.
- 80911_full.jpg:
- "Six wheels on soil!" This image was taken by the
IMP camera on July 5, 1997. Sojourner's descent down the rear rover deployment
ramp was successful. The microrover's seven month journey from Earth to
Mars is complete. The soil beneath Sojourner (with tracks showing behind
the right rear wheel) will be the first target of the Alpha Proton X-Ray
Spectrometer.
- 80881_full.jpg:
- This 360-degree photomosaic was taken by the IMP camera on
July 4, 1997. The foreground is dominated by the lander, newly entitled
the Sagan Memorial Station. All three petals have been fully deployed. Upon
one of the petals is the Sojourner microrover in its stowed position. The
metallic cylinders at either end of Sojourner are the rover deployment ramps.
Visible at the rear end (right) of the rover is the Alpha Proton X-Ray Spectrometer.
Located to the right of the center petal is a dark, circular object and
a bright, metallic object. Both are components of the high gain antenna.
The black post, bull's-eye rings, and small shaded blocks in the far right
portion of the image are components of the calibration targets.
Terrain of Ares Vallis is in the background. The sections
of soil and the large rocks surrounding the Sagan Memorial Station will
provide the rover with numerous opportunities to employ the Alpha Proton
X-Ray Spectrometer. The prominent hills in the background will aid scientists
in determining the exact site of the Sagan Memorial Station.
- 80839_full.jpg:
- The Sojourner rover and undeployed ramps onboard the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft
can be seen in this image, by the Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP) on July
4 (Sol 1). This image has been corrected for the curvature created by parallax.
The microrover Sojourner is latched to the petal, and has not yet been deployed.
The ramps are a pair of deployable metal reels which will provide a track
for the rover as it slowly rolls off the lander, over the spacecraft's deflated
airbags, and onto the surface of Mars. Pathfinder scientists will use this
image to determine whether it is safe to deploy the ramps. One or both of
the ramps will be unfurled, and then scientists will decide whether the
rover will use either the forward or backward ramp for its descent.
- 80828_full.jpg:
- Several prominent features of Mars Pathfinder and surrounding terrain are
seen in this image, taken by the Imager for Mars Pathfinder on July 4 (Sol
1), the spacecraft's first day on the Red Planet. Portions of a lander petal
are at the lower part of the image. At the left, the mechanism for the high-gain
antenna can be seen. The dark area along the right side of the image represents
a portion of the low-gain antenna. The radiation calibration target is at
the right. The calibration target is made up of a number of materials with
well-characterized colors. The known colors of the calibration targets allow
scientists to determine the true colors of the rocks and soils of Mars.
Three bull's-eye rings provide a wide range of brightness for the camera,
similar to a photographer's grayscale chart. In the middle of the bull's-eye
is a 5-inch tall post that casts a shadow, which is distorted in this image
due to its location with respect to the lander camera. A large rock is located
at the near center of the image. Smaller rocks and areas of soil are strewn
across the Martian terrain up to the horizon line.
- 80827_full.jpg:
- This image of the Martian surface was taken by the Imager for Mars Pathfinder
(IMP) before sunset on July 4 (Sol 1), the spacecraft's first day on Mars.
The airbags have been partially retracted, and portions the petal holding
the undeployed rover Sojourner can be seen at lower left. The rock in the
center of the image may be a future target for chemical analysis. The soil
in the foreground has been disturbed by the movement of the airbags as they
retracted.
- 80823_full.jpg:
- These images show that the Mars Pathfinder airbags have been successfully
retracted, allowing safe deployment of the rover ramps. The airbags visible
prominently in the top image are noticeably retracted at the bottom of the
second image. The Sojourner rover is at lower right in this second image,
and rocks are visible in the background.
- 80824_full.jpg:
- These images show that the Mars Pathfinder airbags have been successfully
retracted, allowing safe deployment of the rover ramps. The airbags visible
prominently in the top image are noticeably retracted at the bottom of the
second image. The Sojourner rover is at lower right in this second image,
and rocks are visible in the background.
- 80807_full.jpg:
- This picture from Mars Pathfinder was taken at 9:30 AM in
the martian morning (2:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time), after the spacecraft
landed earlier today (July 4, 1997). The picture shows these Sojourner rover
perched on one of three solar panels. The rover is 65 cm (26 inches) long
by 18 cm (7 inches) tall; each of its wheels is about 13 cm (5 inches) high.
The white material to the left of the front of the rover is part of the
airbag system used to cushion the landing.
Many rocks of different of different sizes can be seen, set
in a background of reddish soil. The landing site is in the mouth of an
ancient channel carved by water. The rocks may be primarily flood debris.
The horizon is seen towards the top of the picture. The light brown hue
of the sky results from suspended dust.
- 80808_full.jpg:
- Large boulders are visible in this enlargement of pictures
taken by the Mars Pathfinder lander camera on July 4, 1997. The landing
site is in the dry flood channel named Ares Valles. The boulders probably
represent deposits from one of the catastrophic floods that carved the ancient
channel. Between the rocks is brownish windblown soil. The gray-tan sky
results from dust particles in the atmosphere.
- 80809_full.jpg:
- This closeup picture of the Mars Pathfinder lander shows the
front of the small Sojourner rover, perched on a solar panel. The white
material in front of the rover is a portion of the air bag system. Beyond
the air bag is the rock-strewn Martian surface. A number of image processing
artifacts are seen in this picture. Most apparent are seams between sub-frames
offsetting portions of the rover's wheels and solar panel, color fringes
that result from viewing the rover from the two separated eyes of the camera,
and blocky fringes near edges and smooth areas that are created by data
compression.
- 80811_full.jpg:
- This is one of the first pictures taken by the camera on the
Mars Pathfinder lander shortly after its touchdown at 10:07 AM Pacific Daylight
Time on July 4, 1997. The small rover, named Sojourner, is seen in the foreground
in its position on a solar panel of the lander. The white material on either
side of the rover is part of the deflated airbag system used to absorb the
shock of the landing. Between the rover and the horizon is the rock-strewn
martian surface. Two hills are seen in the right distance, profiled against
the light brown sky.
- 80812_full.jpg:
- In this image from the Pathfinder IMP camera, a diversity
of rocks are strewn in the foreground. A hill is visible in the distance
(the notch within the hill is an image artifact). Airbags are seen at the
lower right.
- 80813_full.jpg:
- View of martian surface taken by the Imager for Mars Pathfinder
(IMP), the camera on board the Mars Pathfinder lander. This image was taken
in mid-morning on Mars (2:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time, July 4, 1997). Part
of the small rover, Sojourner, is visible on the left side of the picture.
The tan cylinder to the right of the rover is one of two rolled-up ramps
by which the rover will descend to the ground. The white, billowy material
in the center of the picture is part of the airbag system. Many rocks of
different shapes and sizes are visible between the lander and the horizon.
Two hills are visible on the horizon. The notch on the left side of the
leftmost conical hill is an artifact of the processing of this picture.
- 80814_full.jpg:
- This image from the Pathfinder IMP camera shows the rear part
of the Sojourner rover, the rolled-up rear ramp, and portions of the partially
deflated airbags. The Alpha Proton X-ray Spectrometer is protruding from
the rear (right side) of the rover. The airbags behind the rover are presently
blocking the ramp from being safely unfurled.
- 80815_full.jpg:
- This image from the Mars Pathfinder IMP camera shows airbags
in the foreground, a large rock in the mid-field, and a hill in the background.
- 80816_full.jpg:
- This image from the Mars Pathfinder IMP camera shows portions
of the airbags, part of a petal, soil, and several rocks. The furrows in
the soil were artificially produced by the retraction of the airbags after
landing.