... But the picture is one of the first microscopic images of another planet, captured by the Opportunity rover on its tenth sol on the martiansurface at Meridiani Planum . ...
... The telescopic views clearly show details of the martiansurface , including the planet's southern ice cap (top) and hood of clouds over the north pole at the bottom edge. ...
... If true, water once held in Echus Chasma likely ran over the Martiansurface to carve the impressive Kasei Valles , which extends over 3,000 kilometers to the north. ...
... Poised in the foreground is the rover's robotic arm with tool turret extended toward the flat veined patch of martiansurface dubbed "John Klein". ...
... These spacecraft, as well as the two active rovers on the Martiansurface -- NASA's Opportunity and Curiosity -- have taken data and images that will be downloaded to Earth for weeks to come and likely studied for years to come. ...
... It captures what appear to be elongated crystal shapes formed by the precipitation of minerals dissolved in water, a likely result of the evaporation of ancient lake or river from the Martiansurface . ...
... NASA's continued exploration of Mars has produced detailed views of the red tinged Martiansurface like the one shown above which is a composite of 102 images from the Viking missions to Mars . ...