The Department of Physics and Astromony is proud to present Dr. Melissa Rice’s colloquium talk “Mars Through the Eyes of Rovers: Imaging Science from NASA’s Opportunity and Curiousity Missions” on Tuesday, January 20, in Webster room 17.
Abstract: The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover landed on Mars two years ago, and the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has been actively exploring Mars for nearly eleven years. Both rovers have spectroscopic imaging capabilities with their mast-mounted cameras, which can help constrain the iron mineralogy and distribution of hydrated materials on the surface. Here I will present an overview of the instrumentation, technique, and major results from the cameras on both missions. I will also discuss plans for imaging science on NASA’s next rover, which will launch in 2020.
There will be a reception before the colloquium from 3:45 – 4:10 p.m. in the foyer on floor G above the lecture hall in Webster.