Glenelg, Mars

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Glenelg, Mars (or Glenelg Intrigue) is a location on Mars near the Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity rover) landing site ("Bradbury Landing") in Gale Crater marked by a natural intersection of three kinds of terrain.[1][2]

The location was named Glenelg by NASA scientists for two reasons: all features in the immediate vicinity were given names associated with Yellowknife in northern Canada, and Glenelg is the name of a geological feature there. Furthermore, the name is a palindrome, and as the Curiosity rover will visit the location twice (once coming, and once going) this was an appealing feature for the name.[3] The original Glenelg is a village in Scotland which on the 20th October 2012 had a ceremony, including a live link to NASA, to celebrate their "twinning" with Glenelg on Mars.

The trek to Glenelg will send the rover 400 m (1,300 ft) east-southeast of its landing site. One of the three types of terrain intersecting at Glenelg is layered bedrock, which is attractive as the first drilling target.

Images

  • First-Year & First-Mile Traverse Map of the Curiosity rover on Mars (August 1, 2013) (3-D).

  • Curiosity's view of the Glenelg Area – where three terrains merge (September 19, 2012).

  • "Burwash" rock on Mars - as viewed by the MAHLI camera on the Curiosity rover (October 29, 2012).

  • "Et-Then" rock on Mars - as viewed by the MAHLI camera on the Curiosity rover (October 29, 2012).

  • "Shaler" rock outcrop near the Glenelg Area on Mars - as viewed by the MastCam on the Curiosity rover (December 07, 2012).


Curiosity's view of the Glenelg Area - from about 200 m (660 ft) away (September 19, 2012).
Curiosity's view of the "Rocknest" area - South is center/North at both ends; "Mount Sharp" at SE horizon (somewhat left-of-center); "Glenelg" at East (left-of-center); rover tracks at West (right-of-center) (November 16, 2012; white balanced) (raw color) (interactives).
Curiosity's view of the "Shaler" rock outcrop (foreground) near the Glenelg Area [NNW/left; West/center; SSW/right] (December 7, 2012) (3-D).
Curiosity's view of rocks looking from "Rocknest" toward "Point Lake" on the way to the Glenelg Area [East/center] (November 26, 2012; white balanced) (raw color).
Curiosity's view of Mars sky at sunset (February 2013; sun simulated by artist).


See also

References

  1. ↑ Mars Curiosity Rover First Road Trip Planned 
  2. ↑ NASA Curiosity Team Pinpoints Site for First Drive 08.17.12 
  3. ↑ Marlow, Jeffrey (2012-08-23). "Glenelg: From the Scottish Highlands to Mars". Retrieved 2012-09-12. 

External links

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