Surface processes recorded by rocks and soils on Meridiani Planum, Mars: Microscopic Imager observations during Opportunity’s first three extended missions
Mars MER Microscopic Imager Surface Findings Active
By Astrogeology Science Center
October 22, 2018
Merged MI Pancam of feature Serpent taken Sol 73
Merged MI Pancam Image from Opportunity of target Muffins
Merge of MI mosaic and Pancam taken from Spirit on Sol 79
The Microscopic Imagers (MI) on the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, have returned images of Mars with higher resolution than any previous camera system, allowing detailed petrographic and sedimentological studies of the rocks and soils. Designed to simulate a geologist’s hand lens, the MI cameras were mounted on the rovers’ instrument arms. They can resolve objects 0.1 mm across or larger. As part of the daily MER operations process, targets for the MI and other arm instruments were selected by using available Pancam, Navcam, and Hazcam imagery. The MI routinely observed targets that were investigated by the other ARM instruments to study surface details, to provide context for the spectrometer data, and to examine the results of rock abrasion tool (RAT) brushing and grinding activities (paraphrased from Ken Herkonhoff's Science article, Science vol 305, August 6, 2004).
Papers
References
- Herkenhoff, K. E. and 22 others (2003). Athena Microscopic Imager Investigation. J. Geophys. Res. 108, 8065, doi:10.1029/2003JE002076.
- Herkenhoff, K. E. and 22 others (2004). Textures of the Soils and Rocks at Gusev Crater from Spirit’s Microscopic Imager. Science 305, 824.
- Herkenhoff, K. E. and 32 others (2004). Evidence from Opportunity’s Microscopic Imager for Water on Meridiani Planum. Science 306, 1727.
- Herkenhoff, K. E. and 23 others (2006), Overview of the Microscopic Imager Investigation during Spirit's first 450 sols in Gusev crater, J. Geophys. Res., 111, E02S04, doi:10.1029/2005JE002574.
- Herkenhoff, K. E., M. P. Golombek, E. A. Guinness, J. B. Johnson, A. Kusack, L. Richter, R. Sullivan, and S. Gorevan (2008). In-situ observations of the physical properties of the Martian surface. In The Martian Surface: Composition, Mineralogy, and Physical Properties (J. F. Bell III, ed.), Cambridge University Press.
- Herkenhoff, K. E., J. P. Grotzinger, A. H. Knoll, S. M. McLennan, C. M. Weitz, R. A. Yingst, R. C. Anderson, B. Archinal, R. E. D. Arvidson, J. Barrett, K. J. Becker, J. F. Bell, C. Budney, M. G. Chapman, D. A. Cook, B. L. Ehlmann, B. J. Franklin, L. R. Gaddis, D. Galuszka, P. Garcia, P. E. Geissler, T. M. Hare, E. Howington-Kraus, J. R. Johnson, L. Keszthelyi, R. L. Kirk, P. D. Lanagan, E. M. Lee, C. Leff, J. Maki, K. F. Mullins, T. Parker, B. Redding, M. Rosiek, M. H. Sims, L. A. Soderblom, N. Spanovich, R. Springer, S. W. Squyres, D. Stolper, R. Sucharski, T. Sucharski, R. J. Sullivan, and J. Torson (2008), Surface processes recorded by rocks and soils on Meridiani Planum, Mars: Microscopic Imager observations during Opportunity's first three extended missions, J. Geophys. Res. 113, E12S32, doi:10.1029/2008JE003100.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Surface processes recorded by rocks and soils on Meridiani Planum
Surface processes recorded by rocks and soils on Meridiani Planum, Mars: Microscopic Imager observations during Opportunity’s first three extended missions
MER Image Science Foldout
MER Image Science Foldout.
Evidence from Opportunity's Microscopic Imager for Water on Meridiani
Evidence from Opportunity's Microscopic Imager for Water on Meridiani Planum.
Evidence from Opportunity's Microscopic Imager for Water on Meridiani Planum.
Textures of the Soils and Rocks at Gusev Crater from Spirit’s MI
Textures of the Soils and Rocks at Gusev Crater from Spirit’s Microscopic Imager.
Textures of the Soils and Rocks at Gusev Crater from Spirit’s Microscopic Imager.
Overview of the MI Investigation during Spirit's first 450 sols
Overview of the Microscopic Imager Investigation during Spirit’s first 450 sols in Gusev crater.
Overview of the Microscopic Imager Investigation during Spirit’s first 450 sols in Gusev crater.
Athena Microscopic Imager investigation
Athena Microscopic Imager investigation.
Athena Microscopic Imager investigation.
Microscopic Imager Calibration Report
Microscopic Imager Calibration Report.
Microscopic Imager Calibration Report.
In situ observations of the physical properties of the Martian surface
In situ observations of the physical properties of the Martian surface.
In situ observations of the physical properties of the Martian surface.
- Overview
The Microscopic Imagers (MI) on the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, have returned images of Mars with higher resolution than any previous camera system, allowing detailed petrographic and sedimentological studies of the rocks and soils. Designed to simulate a geologist’s hand lens, the MI cameras were mounted on the rovers’ instrument arms. They can resolve objects 0.1 mm across or larger. As part of the daily MER operations process, targets for the MI and other arm instruments were selected by using available Pancam, Navcam, and Hazcam imagery. The MI routinely observed targets that were investigated by the other ARM instruments to study surface details, to provide context for the spectrometer data, and to examine the results of rock abrasion tool (RAT) brushing and grinding activities (paraphrased from Ken Herkonhoff's Science article, Science vol 305, August 6, 2004).
Papers
References
- Herkenhoff, K. E. and 22 others (2003). Athena Microscopic Imager Investigation. J. Geophys. Res. 108, 8065, doi:10.1029/2003JE002076.
- Herkenhoff, K. E. and 22 others (2004). Textures of the Soils and Rocks at Gusev Crater from Spirit’s Microscopic Imager. Science 305, 824.
- Herkenhoff, K. E. and 32 others (2004). Evidence from Opportunity’s Microscopic Imager for Water on Meridiani Planum. Science 306, 1727.
- Herkenhoff, K. E. and 23 others (2006), Overview of the Microscopic Imager Investigation during Spirit's first 450 sols in Gusev crater, J. Geophys. Res., 111, E02S04, doi:10.1029/2005JE002574.
- Herkenhoff, K. E., M. P. Golombek, E. A. Guinness, J. B. Johnson, A. Kusack, L. Richter, R. Sullivan, and S. Gorevan (2008). In-situ observations of the physical properties of the Martian surface. In The Martian Surface: Composition, Mineralogy, and Physical Properties (J. F. Bell III, ed.), Cambridge University Press.
- Herkenhoff, K. E., J. P. Grotzinger, A. H. Knoll, S. M. McLennan, C. M. Weitz, R. A. Yingst, R. C. Anderson, B. Archinal, R. E. D. Arvidson, J. Barrett, K. J. Becker, J. F. Bell, C. Budney, M. G. Chapman, D. A. Cook, B. L. Ehlmann, B. J. Franklin, L. R. Gaddis, D. Galuszka, P. Garcia, P. E. Geissler, T. M. Hare, E. Howington-Kraus, J. R. Johnson, L. Keszthelyi, R. L. Kirk, P. D. Lanagan, E. M. Lee, C. Leff, J. Maki, K. F. Mullins, T. Parker, B. Redding, M. Rosiek, M. H. Sims, L. A. Soderblom, N. Spanovich, R. Springer, S. W. Squyres, D. Stolper, R. Sucharski, T. Sucharski, R. J. Sullivan, and J. Torson (2008), Surface processes recorded by rocks and soils on Meridiani Planum, Mars: Microscopic Imager observations during Opportunity's first three extended missions, J. Geophys. Res. 113, E12S32, doi:10.1029/2008JE003100.
- Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Surface processes recorded by rocks and soils on Meridiani PlanumSurface processes recorded by rocks and soils on Meridiani Planum, Mars: Microscopic Imager observations during Opportunity’s first three extended missions
Surface processes recorded by rocks and soils on Meridiani Planum, Mars: Microscopic Imager observations during Opportunity’s first three extended missions
MER Image Science FoldoutMER Image Science Foldout.
Evidence from Opportunity's Microscopic Imager for Water on MeridianiEvidence from Opportunity's Microscopic Imager for Water on Meridiani Planum.
Evidence from Opportunity's Microscopic Imager for Water on Meridiani Planum.
Textures of the Soils and Rocks at Gusev Crater from Spirit’s MITextures of the Soils and Rocks at Gusev Crater from Spirit’s Microscopic Imager.
Textures of the Soils and Rocks at Gusev Crater from Spirit’s Microscopic Imager.
Overview of the MI Investigation during Spirit's first 450 solsOverview of the Microscopic Imager Investigation during Spirit’s first 450 sols in Gusev crater.
Overview of the Microscopic Imager Investigation during Spirit’s first 450 sols in Gusev crater.
Athena Microscopic Imager investigationAthena Microscopic Imager investigation.
Athena Microscopic Imager investigation.
Microscopic Imager Calibration ReportMicroscopic Imager Calibration Report.
Microscopic Imager Calibration Report.
In situ observations of the physical properties of the Martian surfaceIn situ observations of the physical properties of the Martian surface.
In situ observations of the physical properties of the Martian surface.