                        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.

                                2023 June 24

                                3D Ingenuity
                 Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, MSSS, ASU

   Explanation: The multicolor, stereo imaging Mastcam-Z on the
   Perseverance rover zoomed in to capture this 3D close-up (get out your
   red/blue glasses) of the Mars Ingenuity helicopter on mission sol 45.
   That's Earth-date 2021 April 5. Casting a shadow on the Martian
   surface, Ingenuity is standing alone on its four landing legs next to
   the rover's wheel tracks. The experimental helicopter's solar panel,
   charging batteries that keep it warm through the cold Martian nights
   and power its flight, sits just above Ingenuity's two 1.2 meter (4
   foot) long counter-rotating blades. Thirteen sols later, on April 19,
   Ingenuity became the first aircraft to perform powered, controlled
   flight on another planet. It has since gone on to complete more than 50
   flights through the thin atmosphere of Mars.

                    Tomorrow's picture: Jovian lightning
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

