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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Photo: Mars Rover Sets Out on Risky Crater Mission


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A view from the Mars rover Opportunity shows the Bright Band, a light-colored layer of rock that was exposed to the Martian environment when Victoria Crater was formed millions of years ago.

Scientists hope the band contains information about Mars's ancient atmosphere and water levels, so they're sending Opportunity into the crater for a closer look.

Image courtesy NASA/JPL/Cornell