[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: September 25 - October 1, 2013

[Ron Baalke]

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Pointing the Cameras to Comet ISON -
sols 3438-3444, Sept. 25, 2013-Oct. 01, 2013

Opportunity is at the northern edge of 'Solander Point' on the rim of 
Endeavour Crater. The rover is investigating the geologic contact at the 
base of Solander Point.

On Sol 3439 (Sept. 26, 2013), Opportunity headed southwest with an approximately 
102 foot (31-meter) drive. In the process the rover collected some Panoramic 
Camera (Pancam) color imagery of a ripple and completed a post-drive Navigation 
Camera (Navcam) panorama. On Sol 3441 (Sept. 28, 2013), the rover imaged 
the target 'Callitris' with the Pancam, and then bumped a little over 
16 feet (5 meters) to put the target within reach of the rover's robotic 
arm.

Opportunity pointed the Panoramic Camera (Pancam) at comet ISON but the 
comet did not make itself bright enough to be visible to Pancam.

On Sol 3444 (Sept. 1, 2013), Opportunity used the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) 
to brush the target Callitris before collecting a Microscopic Image (MI) 
mosaic of the same and placing the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) 
for an overnight integration.

As of Sol 3444 (Sept. 1, 2013), the solar array energy production was 
323 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.633 and a solar 
array dust factor of 0.494.

Total odometry is 23.87 miles (38.41 kilometers).