Spirit's Winter Haven: the surroundings (1)

Caption NASA originale:"In time to survive the Martian Winter, NASA's MER Spirit has driven to and parked on a North-facing slope in the Columbia Hills.
This vantage point will optimize solar power during the upcoming Winter Season and maximize the vehicle's ability to communicate with the NASA Odyssey orbiter.
Top science priorities for the coming months are:

1. a detailed, 360° panorama using all 13 filters of the PanCam;
2. a study of surface and subsurface soil properties and
3. monitoring of the atmosphere and its changes".