NASA’s Opportunity Mars rover is parked on the Cape Verde promontory at Victoria Crater [image]—and is getting quite the view.

Scientists are elated at first up-close looks at the geology to explore. This image, for instance, is of Cape St. Mary, showing a slice of geological paradise that can be studied, loaded with information concerning the red planet’s past.

Mars researchers are delighted at the sweep of interesting things to inspect at Victoria Crater, but are at a very early stage in their analysis.

Still being weighed is how best, if possible, to wheel Opportunity down into Victoria Crater.

• IMAGES: Opportunity’s Long Road to Victoria
• Video: All Eyes on Mars
• IMAGES: Visualizations of Mars
• Red Planet Recon: Complete Coverage of NASA’s MRO Mission to Mars
• Complete Coverage: Mars Rovers
• All About Mars

-- Leonard David

Credit: NASA/JPL.