Mars surface. Panoramic view of the surface of Mars showing an outcrop of bedrock (light colour), seen from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity, which landed on 24 January 2004. The rover landed in a shallow crater in an area called Meridiani Planum. Opportunity's scientific instruments will be used to determine whether the rocks are volcanic or sedimentary in origin. The bedrock found under the Martian sands may differ from the rocks found on the surface. Opportunity, and an identical rover called Spirit, will study Martian rocks and look for water on the planet. This image was taken with Opportunity's panoramic camera.