Using Color to See More - The Martian Sun Dial

Using Color to See More - The Martian Sun Dial
The Caves of Mars | Education Resources | MER Color Index
The Panoramic Camera's calibration target is, by far, the most unique the rover carries. It is in the shape of a Sundial and is mounted on the rover deck. The camera will take pictures of the sundial many times during the mission so that scientists can make adjustments to the images they receive from Mars. They will use the colored blocks in the corners of the sundial to calibrate the color in images of the Martian landscape. Pictures of the shadows that are cast by the sundial's center post will allow scientists to properly adjust the brightness of each camera image. Children provided artwork for the sides of the base of the sundial. The three black and white images below were taken through the left PanCam, with the red, green and blue filters. Once stacked together in PhotoShop or similar image editing program, the colors of Mars can be seen.

Left Camera, Red Filter Left Camera, Green Filter

Left Camera, Blue Filter Combined RGB Color Image

All Images Courtesy NASA/JPL Mars Exploration Rover Mission
The Caves of Mars Project is funded by a NIAC Phase II Grant from the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts.
Copyright © 2002-04 - Complex Systems Research; Inc.

Using Color to See More - The Martian Sun Dial The Caves of Mars \| Education Resources \| MER Color Index The Panoramic Camera's calibration target is, by far, the most unique the rover carries. It is in the shape of a Sundial and is mounted on the rover deck. The camera will take pictures of the sundial many times during the mission so that scientists can make adjustments to the images they receive from Mars. They will use the colored blocks in the corners of the sundial to calibrate the color in images of the Martian landscape. Pictures of the shadows that are cast by the sundial's center post will allow scientists to properly adjust the brightness of each camera image. Children provided artwork for the sides of the base of the sundial. The three black and white images below were taken through the left PanCam, with the red, green and blue filters. Once stacked together in PhotoShop or similar image editing program, the colors of Mars can be seen.
Left Camera, Red Filter	Left Camera, Green Filter
Left Camera, Blue Filter	Combined RGB Color Image
All Images Courtesy NASA/JPL Mars Exploration Rover Mission The Caves of Mars Project is funded by a NIAC Phase II Grant from the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts. Copyright © 2002-04 - Complex Systems Research; Inc.