Opportunity Rover

Meridiani Planum

Looking at the lip of the crater and past it onto the plane.

Opportunity Rover

Meridiani Planum

Another view of the bedrock.

Opportunity Rover

Meridiani Planum

Fisheye lens. The Rover's arm is extended to investigate a trench dug by the rover's wheel. A chance to look below the surface.

Opportunity Rover

Meridiani Planum

A closer look at the bedrock with good lighting. You can really see the stratification in the rock.

3-D Images and Depth Perception

3-D Glasses

Having trouble seeing the images?

Images from Mars

3-D Glasses

Having trouble seeing the images?

3-D Images and Depth Perception

We see in three-dimensions because of binocular vision. Each eye sees a slightly different image because they are in slightly different positions. The brain combines the two images, interpreting the differences in the images to provide us with a perception of depth. Any "3-D" image contains two images, one meant to be seen by the left eye and one meant for the right.

The images on this site use color to isolate the two images. This is called an "anaglyph" image. The image meant to be viewed by the left eye is rendered in blue and the one for the right is rendered in red. When the left eye looks through the red filter of the 3-D glasses it cannot see the red "right" image because the red filter masks it. The red filter also makes the blue image slightly darker and sifts the color to make it nearly gray. The effect of the blue filter for the right eye is the same, but in reverse. The overall result is that each eye sees only the image intended for it. The image the left eye sees is the one captured by the left half of the stereoscopic camera and the right eye sees the image from the right half. For more information about stereoscopic vision and 3-D images click here.

Rainbow Symphony

They have a bunch of cool 3-D images on their site, including some more Mars images.

TIM'S TRADING POST for $2.95 (free shipping.) You can also find more Mars imasges here.

Having trouble seeing the images?

If you are having trouble getting the two images to resolve into a clear picture try this. First, relax. Don't try to see the 3-D effect. It is just a matter of focusing in the right place. Now close one eye and then open it and close the other. Blink back and forth between the two eyes. Notice how the picture seems to jump back and forth. What you are seeing is the difference between the views seen by the left and right eyes. Now try focusing your attention past the screen as though the image is receding into your monitor. Pick one item, like a rock or a mountain and focus on it. This will work for most of the images, but some of them do not recede into the monitor, but appear in front of the screen. This is especially so in the case of the 3rd image - the close-up of the rocky ground. If you have trouble seeing this image try this. Hold up a finger about 8" in front of the screen and focus on it. You should notice that the photo now seems to "click in." Keep your focus at this distance from the screen as you remove your finger.