2021-04-05

Mars Rocks! Stereoscopic Corner #3

by Claudia Manzoni and Brian May

In this new post from the “Stereoscopic Corner” we offer a compilation of five rock-themed stereo views from Perseverance’s first month of Mastcam-Z imaging in Jezero crater, all in parallel side-by-side format, then in cross-eyed, and then anaglyph format. Details on the different stereo formats were discussed in our first Stereoscopic Corner blog.

(1) Rocks in a wide variety of shapes and textures can be identified in this stereo view created from three images, taken on Perseverance’s sol 22. Some blocks are heavily fractured, others are curiously sharp and pointed, probably shaped by the wind, and some flatter and lighter rocks feature a ‘holey’ texture.

[Images from Perseverance/Mastcam-Z – Sol 22, from https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/multimedia/raw-images/ ZLF_0022_0668905248_064FDR_N0030770ZCAM07000_1100LUJ, ZLF_0022_0668905215_064FDR_N0030770ZCAM07000_1100LUJ, ZRF_0022_0668905215_064FDR_N0030770ZCAM07000_1100LUJ]

*Parallel side-by-side stereo: Manzoni/May [NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS]*

*Cross-eyed side-by-side stereo: Manzoni/May [NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS]*

*Color anaglyph stereo for red/blue glasses: Manzoni/May [NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS]*

(2) Another view from the same panorama taken on Sol 22 featuring sharp rocks, fractured blocks and some more rounded rocks.

[Images from Perseverance/Mastcam-Z – Sol 22, from https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/multimedia/raw-images/ ZLF_0022_0668905009_064FDR_N0030770ZCAM07000_1100LUJ; ZLF_0022_0668905402_064FDR_N0030770ZCAM07000_1100LUJ; ZRF_0022_0668905009_064FDR_N0030770ZCAM07000_1100LUJ; ZRF_0022_0668905042_064FDR_N0030770ZCAM07000_1100LUJ; ZRF_0022_0668905367_064FDR_N0030770ZCAM07000_1100LUJ; ZRF_0022_0668905402_064FDR_N0030770ZCAM07000_1100LUJ]

(3) Hole-filled rocks next to Perseverance’s wheels were spotted on the very first colour panorama pictures the rover sent home on Sol 3. On Earth holes can be found in volcanic rocks, formed by trapped volcanic gases, or in sedimentary rocks where these can be the result of water dissolving minerals and tunnelling through the rock. These stereo views show details from the same stereo pair.

[Images from Perseverance/Mastcam-Z – Sol 3, from https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/multimedia/raw-images/ ZLF_0003_0667220316_000FDR_N0010052AUT_04096_034085J01 ZRF_0003_0667220316_000FDR_N0010052AUT_04096_034085J01]

(4) This rock imaged by Perseverance/Mastcam-Z on Sol 16 is named ‘Yeehgo’, and was the second rock target analyzed by Perseverance’s SuperCam set of instruments. Yeehgo is an alternative spelling of the Navajo word ‘Yéigo’ which means ‘diligent’.

[Images from Perseverance/Mastcam-Z – Sol 16, from https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/multimedia/raw-images/ ZL0_0016_0668361165_057EBY_N0030386ZCAM03101_0630LUJ01;
ZR0_0016_0668361165_057EBY_N0030386ZCAM03101_0630LUJ01]

(5) A light-toned exposed rock imaged by Mastcam-Z on Sol 15. Perseverance’s tracks are visible around it.

[Images from Perseverance/Mastcam-Z – Sol 15, from https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/multimedia/raw-images/ ZLF_0015_0668273255_139FDR_N0030110ZCAM08000_1000LUJ
ZRF_0015_0668273255_139FDR_N0030110ZCAM08000_1000LUJ]