The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has just begun its science mission, and one of the first targets is Victoria Crater, where the rover Opportunity has just arrived after nearly 1000 sols on Mars.

The photos, using the largest interplanetary telescope ever lofted, are truly amazing.

See comments for links to original imagery. picked by Fanatic 2 years ago

The crater is about 60 metres deep, allowing a rover to "dig" deeper into the ground – and into Mars's past – than ever before. "We're going to see more of the history of Mars here than we've seen anywhere else," Squyres says. picked by DrNothing 1 year ago

Maas Digital created this dramatic, scientifically accurate computer animation to illustrate NASA's Mars Exploration Rover mission. A truly awesome feat of modern engineering! This whole process is mind boggling! picked by ogri2003 1 year ago

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has discovered evidence of an ancient volcanic explosion at "Home Plate," a plateau of layered bedrock approximately 2 meters (6 feet) high within the "Inner Basin" of Columbia Hills, at the rover's landing site in Gusev Crater. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, or HiRISE, camera onboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has taken a new color image of the feature dubbed "Home Plate" in Gusev Crater on Mars. picked by AutumnLotus 1 year ago

New software is helping NASA find safe places for the Spirit rover to ride out future Martian winters - - and also plan where Spirit and its companion rover, Opportunity, will explore in the future. picked by Mershaullk 12 months ago

The most productive and longest-lived mission to Mars has likely ended, NASA says. For nearly ten years, the orbiter mapped the surface of Mars, and it played a big role in selecting the landing sites for the successful Mars Rover missions. A problem with a solar panel joint led to its demise. picked by Fanatic 2 years ago

"Another soil sample of the exact same composition as the last one..." "Still no water..." It's out of its mind with boredom. Another wonderful satirical story from The Onion. picked by Fanatic 2 years ago

Days before its tenth anniversary in Mars orbit, the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft ran into problems. They got a weak signal three days later, and nothing since. Plans are to take a photograph of it with another Mars Orbiter today or tomorrow. picked by Fanatic 2 years ago

On the surface, the ExoMars rover looks similar to NASA's Spirit and Opportunity rovers, with a six-wheeled design and outstretched solar wings. It also has a suite of scientific instruments designed to search for life on the surface of Mars. picked by DrNothing 1 year ago

A major dust storm on Mars has worsened and is causing the Mars Exploration Rovers to lose power. picked by ogri2003 1 year ago

And in good news about us humans today... picked by Moe 1 year ago

A lake that might once have been habitable may have filled a crater for a long time on early Mars, new spacecraft images reveal. NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured the images that suggest the debris-strewn Holden Crater once held a calm body of water that could have harbored life. picked by AutumnLotus 9 months ago

The radar system on the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter has uncovered new details about some of the most mysterious deposits on Mars: the Medusae Fossae Formation. It has provided the first direct measurement of the depth and electrical properties of these materials, providing new clues about their origin. picked by AutumnLotus 1 year ago

The food company that makes Mars Bars has been forced to change its chocolate recipes and ditch the use of animal products after a backlash from vegetarians. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

If skies are clear in your area on Sunday night, Dec. 23, you'll be able to partake in a rather unusual sight as the full moon appears to glide very closely above the planet Mars. Mars, which made its closest approach to the Earth on Dec. 18, will be only hours from a Christmas Eve opposition with the sun and is now shining prominently with a bright yellow-orange glow. picked by AutumnLotus 12 months ago

OK, everyone: get out your funky 3-D glasses for a whole new look at Mars! Now it's time to feast your eyes on Mars' arctic tundra as its never been seen before: in super frozen 3-D from the Phoenix lander! picked by cactushair 4 months ago

Fossil microbes found along an iron-rich river in Spain reveal how signs of life could be preserved in minerals found on Mars. The discovery may help to equip the next generation Mars rover with the tools it would need to find evidence of past life on the planet. picked by AutumnLotus 7 months ago

The Mars rover joins its twin, Spirit, in celebrating 3 years of exploring Mars.

(The rovers were designed to have a lifetime of about 90 days) picked by tundramonkey 2 years ago

Images were taken from the summit of "Husband Hill" which is a plateau about 100 meters (300 feet) above the Gusev crater. The location has been named the Everest panorama. These images from the Mars Rover Mission were made from Oct. 1 to Oct. 3, 2005. picked by ogri2003 1 year ago