In response to: Opportunity - Sols 2114 to 2125 - Drive Direction mosaics

James [Member] — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:44:56 +0000

That is a good question.

These 'drive direction' images are are taken using just two coloured filters one blue/violet and one far-red/near infrared. i.e. at the very ends of human visible spectrum. Making images with any accurate colours next to impossible. The blue colour is an artifact of this processing, it would not look blue in 'real life'

If you look at most of the other 'drive direction' images I have made recently you'll see that the sky normally comes out a more mars-like shade. Recent ones are much bluer as the atmosphere at Meridiani is currently relatively dust free, this has the effect of making the sky darker in the red/near IR filter. e.g.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/1/p/2122/1P316570626EFFA91SP2355R2M1.JPG

My processing software therefore sees the sky as much brighter in the blue/violet than the red/IR and falsely gives it a blue colour.

In response to: Opportunity - Sols 2114 to 2125 - Drive Direction mosaics

Eva [Visitor] — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:26:55 +0000

Hello, I found your blog very interesting and I was wondering what made the sky so blue on your pictures of Sol 2122, 2124 and 2125.

Thanks for your mosaics, it's always a pleasure "to travel" on Mars thanks to you.

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In response to: Opportunity - Sols 2114 to 2125 - Drive Direction mosaics

In response to: Opportunity - Sols 2114 to 2125 - Drive Direction mosaics