* Astronomy

Opportunity rover observation of a rock rich in clay minerals

Nasa's ageing Opportunity rover on Mars has just made what may be one of its most significant discoveries to date.
The nine-year-old robot has identified rock laden with what scientists believe to be clay minerals.
Their presence is an indication that the rock, dubbed Esperance, has been altered at some point in the past through prolonged contact with water.
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Nine-Year-Old Mars Rover Passes 40-Year-Old Record

While Apollo 17 astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt visited Earth's moon for three days in December 1972, they drove their mission's Lunar Roving Vehicle 19.3 nautical miles (35.744 kilometers). That was the farthest total distance for any NASA vehicle driving on a world other than Earth until yesterday.
The team operating NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity received confirmation in a transmission from Mars today that the rover drove 80 metres on Thursday, bringing Opportunity's total odometry since landing on Mars in January 2004 to 35.760 kilometers.
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Opportunity, MER-B (Mars Exploration Rover - B) landed on the Martian Meridiani Planum on 25 January 2004 at 05:05 Ground UTC (about 13:15 local time)

Spoiler

Opportunity rover could be rolling on Martian clays

Nasa's Opportunity rover appears to have reached another milestone in its amazing nine-year mission on Mars.
Scientists report the robot has been trundling over what they believe to be clay-bearing rocks on the edge of a wide bowl known as Endeavour Crater.
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