Postcards from Mars: The Amazing Photos of Opportunity and Spirit Rovers

Mars 'Matijevic Hill' Panorama (Stereo)

ASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/Arizona State Univ.

As NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity neared the ninth anniversary of its landing on Mars, the rover was working in the 'Matijevic Hill' area seen in this stereo view from Opportunity's panoramic camera (Pancam). Images for this mosaic obtained Nov. 19 to Dec. 3, 2012.

Spherules Seen by Mars Rover Opportunity

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell Univ./ USGS/Modesto Junior College

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell Univ./ USGS/Modesto Junior College

Opportunity Eyes Rock Fins on Cape York, Sol 3058 (False Color)

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell Univ./Arizona State Univ.

Rock fins up to about 1 foot (30 centimeters) tall dominate this scene from the panoramic camera (Pancam) on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. The component images were taken during the 3,058th Martian day, or sol, of Opportunity's work on Mars on Aug. 23, 2012.

Shadow Self-Portrait by Opportunity at Endeavour Crater

NASA/ JPL-Caltech

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity captured this view of its afternoon shadow stretching into Endeavour Crater during the 3,051st Martian day, or sol, of Opportunity's work on Mars on Aug. 23, 2012.

Outcrop Beckoning Opportunity

NASA/ JPL-Caltech

The team operating NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity plans to investigate rocks in this area photographed by the rover's navigation camera during the 3,057th Martian day, or sol, of Opportunity's work on Mars on Aug. 23, 2012.

Opportunity's Surroundings on 3,000th Sol, Vertical Projection

NASA/ JPL-Caltech

This 360-degree scene assembled from images taken by the navigation camera on NASA's Mars Exporation Rover Opportunity shows terrain surrounding the position where the rover spent its 3,000th Martian day, or sol, working on Mars on July 2, 2012.

Opportunity's Surroundings on 3,000th Sol, in 3-D

NASA/ JPL-Caltech

This 360-degree stereo panorama assembled from images taken by the navigation camera on NASA's Mars Exporation Rover Opportunity shows terrain surrounding the position where the rover spent its 3,000th Martian day, or sol, working on Mars on July 2, 2012.

Opportunity Eyes Rock Fins on Cape York,

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell Univ./Arizona State Univ.

Rock fins up to about 1 foot (30 centimeters) tall dominate this scene from the panoramic camera (Pancam) on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. This image was taken Aug. 23, 2012.

Opportunity's Surroundings on 3,000th Sol, Polar Projection

NASA/ JPL-Caltech

This 360-degree scene assembled from images taken by the navigation camera on NASA's Mars Exporation Rover Opportunity shows terrain surrounding the position where the rover spent its 3,000th Martian day, or sol, working on Mars on July 2, 2012.

Opportunity Eyes Rock Fins on Cape York, Sol 3058 (Stereo)

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell Univ./Arizona State Univ.

Rock fins up to about 1 foot (30 centimeters) tall dominate this stereo scene from the panoramic camera (Pancam) on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. The component images were taken during the 3,058th Martian day, or sol, of Opportunity's work on Mars on Aug. 23, 2012.

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Tariq Malik
Editor-in-Chief

Tariq is the Editor-in-Chief of Space.com and joined the team in 2001, first as an intern and staff writer, and later as an editor. He covers human spaceflight, exploration and space science, as well as skywatching and entertainment. He became Space.com's Managing Editor in 2009 and Editor-in-Chief in 2019. Before joining Space.com, Tariq was a staff reporter for The Los Angeles Times covering education and city beats in La Habra, Fullerton and Huntington Beach. In October 2022, Tariq received the Harry Kolcum Award for excellence in space reporting from the National Space Club Florida Committee. He is also an Eagle Scout (yes, he has the Space Exploration merit badge) and went to Space Camp four times as a kid and a fifth time as an adult. He has journalism degrees from the University of Southern California and New York University. You can find Tariq at Space.com and as the co-host to the This Week In Space podcast with space historian Rod Pyle on the TWiT network. To see his latest project, you can follow Tariq on Twitter @tariqjmalik.