This picture shows where Meridiani Planum is on Mars.
Click on image for full size
Windows to the Universe original artwork by Randy Russell using images courtesy NASA/JPL.
A Place on Mars called Meridiani Planum
Meridiani Planum is the name of a flat plain on Mars. Opportunity landed
there. Opportunity is one of the Mars
Exploration Rovers.
Meridiani Planum is very flat. "Planum" means "plain". Scientists think there
used to be water where the plain is now. They aren't sure about that. They hope
Opportunity will find out. They think there is a mineral
on the plain that usually forms in water.
That mineral is called hematite.
Meridiani Planum is just to the east of the grand canyon on Mars. The grand
canyon on Mars is called Valles
Marineris.
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