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Birthday · May 8, 2011

Shadow of a Martian Robot

May 8, 2011

You share your birthday with the light of distant galaxies that has been traveling for millions of years just to arrive here, now, alongside...

Shadow of a Martian Robot

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APOD published May 8, 2011. Full image credits are on the original APOD entry below. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.

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Shadow of a Martian Robot

Original APOD · May 8, 2011

What if you saw your shadow on Mars and it wasn't human? Then you might be the Opportunity rover currently exploring Mars. Opportunity and sister robot Spirit have been probing the red planet since early 2004, finding evidence of ancient water, and sending breathtaking images across the inner Solar System. Pictured above, Opportunity looks opposite the Sun into Endurance Crater and sees its own shadow. Two wheels are visible on the lower left and right, while the floor and walls of the unusual crater are visible in the background. Although the Spirit rover is now stuck, Opportunity is continuing on its long trek to expansive Endeavor crater.

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