Mars robot gives scientists more new images to study

The Mars rover Opportunity is snapping pictures like a tourist since arriving at its latest crater on the Red Planet, much to the delight of scientists on Earth.

The solar-powered workhorse beamed back images of the horizon, soil and nearby rocks that are unlike any it has seen during its seven years roaming the Martian plains.

Opportunity recently used its robotic arm to investigate a flat-topped boulder to find out what it’s made of.

After a three-year drive, the six-wheel rover arrived at the western rim of Endeavour Crater earlier this month to begin a new chapter of exploration.

Project managers chose the locale because it’s older than previous spots Opportunity has visited. The view from orbit reveals evidence of clay deposits believed to have formed in a warm and wet environment early in Mars’ history.