                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                 2025 May 10

                           Yogi and Friends in 3D
              Image Credit: Mars Pathfinder Mission, JPL, NASA

   Explanation: This picture from July 1997 shows a ramp from the
   Pathfinder lander, the Sojourner robot rover, deflated landing airbags,
   a couch, Barnacle Bill and Yogi Rock appear together in this 3D stereo
   view of the surface of Mars. Barnacle Bill is the rock just left of the
   house cat-sized, solar-paneled Sojourner. Yogi is the big
   friendly-looking boulder at top right. The "couch" is the angular rock
   shape visible near center on the horizon. Look at the image with
   red/blue glasses (or just hold a piece of clear red plastic over your
   left eye and blue or green over your right) to get the dramatic 3D
   perspective. The stereo view was recorded by the remarkable Imager for
   Mars Pathfinder (IMP) camera. The IMP had two optical paths for stereo
   imaging and ranging and was equipped with an array of color filters for
   spectral analysis. Operating as the first astronomical observatory on
   Mars, the IMP also recorded images of the Sun and Deimos, the smallest
   of Mars' two tiny moons.

             Tomorrow's picture: if you could stand on Venus ...
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

