First look inside Victoria Crater (1) - Sol 951

NASA's MER Opportunity reached the rim of Victoria Crater in Mars' Meridiani Planum Region with a 26-mt (85-foot) drive during the Rover's 951st Sol (Sept. 26, 2006). After the drive, the Rover's NavCam took the 3 exposures combined into this view of the crater's interior. This crater has been the mission's long-term destination for the past 21 Earth months.
A half mile in the distance one can see about 20% of the far side of the crater framed by the rocky cliffs in the foreground to the left and right of the image. The rim of the crater is composed of alternating promontories, rocky points towering approx. 70 mt (230 feet) above the crater floor and recessed alcoves. The bottom of the crater is covered by sand that has been shaped into ripples by the Martian wind.
The position at the end of the Sol 951 drive is about 6 meters from the lip of an alcove called Duck Bay. The rover team planned a drive for Sol 952 that would move a few more meters forward, plus more imaging of the near and far walls of the crater.