Orion Crater

         This small, relatively fresh crater was acquired by the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity on Sol 4712 (April 26, 2017) during the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 16 mission to the moon. Named after the Apollo 16 lunar module, Orion Crater's diameter is about 90 feet (27 meters) lying on the western rim of Endeavour Crater, roughly the same size as Plum Crater on the Moon that was investigated by Apollo 16 astronauts John Young and Charles Duke in 1972. When Duke was presented with this mosaic, he said "[I] wish I was standing on the rim of Orion like I was on the rim of Plum Crater 45 years ago" and that the view was "fantastic". For more information about Orion Crater, please visit the public release.

         Pancam's 753 nm, 535 nm, and 432 nm filters were used in making this mosaic.  Three versions are provided at full resolution: an approximate true color rendering, a false color rendering which enhances the subtle color differences in the scene, and a stereo anaglyph for 3D viewing through red-blue glasses.

Jim Bell
Pancam Instrument Lead
August 30, 2017