Seven years of Opportunity
The rover Opportunity has been on the surface of Mars for over seven years now. From Astronomy Picture of the Day for January 29th: Opportunity at Santa Maria Crater.
Credit: Mars Exploration Rover Mission, NASA, JPL, Cornell
The panorama is much more detailed on the APOD site.
The description from APOD:
Celebrating 7 years on the surface of the Red Planet, Mars exploration rover Opportunity now stands near the rim of 90 meter wide Santa Maria crater. Remarkably, Opportunity and its fellow rover Spirit were initially intended for a 3 month long primary mission. Still exploring, the golf cart-sized robot and shadow (far right) appear in the foreground of this panoramic view of its current location. The mosaic was constructed using images from the rover’s navigation camera. On its 7 year anniversary, Opportunity can boast traversing a total of 26.7 kilometers along the martian surface. After investigating Santa Maria crater, controllers plan to have Opportunity resume a long-term trek toward Endurance crater, a large, 22 kilometer diameter crater about 6 kilometers from Santa Maria. During coming days, communication with the rover will be more difficult as Mars moves close to alignment with the Sun as seen from planet Earth’s perspective.
Grace and Peace
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The GeoChristian
The primary objective of The GeoChristian is to increase science literacy among Evangelical Christians, especially in the areas of the Earth and environmental sciences. I aim to discuss controversial topics in ways that are sound both Biblically and scientifically, and to do so in a way that treats all readers with respect.
A brief summary of my beliefs about creation can be found at Creation Creeds.
You can contact me at geochristianblog [at] gmail [dot] com. Or you can visit The GeoChristian on Facebook.
I am the author of Earth Science: God’s World, Our Home, a new middle school Earth Science textbook from Novare Science and Math. If you are looking for an Earth Science textbook that honors God’s Word as authoritative, does not advocate the young-Earth interpretation of Genesis, and promotes stewardship of the Earth, then this is the curriculum for you.
Novare Science and Math is a Christian science curriculum publisher whose “purpose is to effect a radical transformation in science and math education by promoting a teaching philosophy based on the core principles of Mastery, Integration, and Kingdom Perspective.”
I heartily endorse Home Science Tools as your source for science supplies for both home school science and science in smaller schools that do not need to purchase large quantities.
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The ESV Study Bible
The Reason for God, by Timothy Keller
Genesis 1-4: A Linguistic, Literary, and Theological Commentary, by C. John Collins
Seven Days That Divide the World: The Beginning According to Genesis and Science, by John Lennox
The Bible, Rocks and Time, by Davis Young and Ralph Stearley
Pollution and the Death of Man, by Francis Schaeffer
For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care, by Steven Bouma-Prediger
Generous Justice, by Timothy Keller
Daer Geo,
I have not responded to as many of your posts as I would have liked – which makes no difference as you never acknowledge my comments and I suspect you don’t like English people – but I really do appreciate what you share here. I love the fact that they are not just a defence of the faith, but also a reflection upon your wider scientific interests. You come across as a widely read and holistic human being. We don’t have adult Sunday School in the UK, but if we did, I wish you could take one.
God bless,
Steve
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Steve,
Sorry if you’ve felt ignored. Your comments have been great; thus the lack of response on my part.
I have nothing against English people, and know that many of them are nothing like Mr. Bean.
Grace and Peace,
Kevin
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