Glenelg (or Glenelg Intrigue) is a location on Mars near the Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity rover) landing site (Bradbury Landing) in Gale Crater marked by a natural intersection of three kinds of terrain.[1][2]

Rock found on Sol 27

Name

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The location was named Glenelg by NASA scientists for two reasons: all features in the immediate vicinity were given names associated with Yellowknife in northern Canada, and Glenelg is the name of a geological feature there. Furthermore, the name is a palindrome, and as the Curiosity rover is planned to visit the location twice (once coming, and once going) this was an appealing feature for the name.[3] The original Glenelg is a village in Scotland which on 20 October 2012 had a ceremony, including a live link to NASA, to celebrate their "twinning" with Glenelg on Mars.[4]

The trek to Glenelg will send the rover 400 m (1,300 ft) east-southeast of its landing site. One of the three types of terrain intersecting at Glenelg is layered bedrock, which is attractive as the first drilling target.[citation needed]

Images

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Curiosity's view of the Glenelg Area - from about 200 m (660 ft) away (19 September 2012).
Curiosity's view of the "Rocknest" area - South is center/North at both ends; "Mount Sharp" at SE horizon (somewhat left-of-center); "Glenelg" at East (left-of-center); rover tracks at West (right-of-center) (16 November 2012; white balanced) (raw color) (interactives).
Curiosity's view of the "Shaler" rock outcrop (foreground) near the Glenelg Area [NNW/left; West/center; SSW/right] (7 December 2012) (3-D).
Curiosity's view of rocks looking from "Rocknest" toward "Point Lake" on the way to the Glenelg Area [East/center] (26 November 2012; white balanced) (raw color).
Curiosity's view of Mars sky at sunset (February 2013; Sun simulated by artist).

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Mars Curiosity Rover First Road Trip Planned, archived from the original on 20 August 2012
  2. ^ NASA Curiosity Team Pinpoints Site for First Drive 08.17.12, archived from the original on 11 November 2020, retrieved 18 August 2012
  3. ^ Marlow, Jeffrey (23 August 2012). "Glenelg: From the Scottish Highlands to Mars".
  4. ^ Holgate, Alastair. "Glenelg Scotland, twinned with Mars". The Glenelg and Arnisdale Tourist Information Guide. Glenelg and Arnisdale Tourist Information. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016.
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