By IBTimes Staff Reporter | Jul 09, 2012 10:40 AM EDT

NASA released new photos on Thursday from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity with panoramic pictures showing the terrain over four months during the most recent Martian winter.

The pictures from the Pancam are a full-circle scene comprised of 817 images depicting the terrain where the rover was stationary over a four month period at a northward sloped outcrop called “Greeley Haven” between December 21, 2011 and May 8, 2012.

The rover has been stationed on Mars since January 2004 and most recently worked on Greeley Haven to:

1. Understand Martian spin axis dynamics and thus interior structure through radio-science observations

2. Investigate of the composition and textures of an outcrop exposing an impact-jumbled rock formation on the crater rim,

3. Monitor the atmosphere and surface for changes

4. Acquire a full-color mosaic of the surroundings

View the slideshow to see photos of Mars from NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity and learn more about the project on Greeley Haven here.

NASA released new photos on Thursday from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity with panoramic pictures showing the terrain at Greeley Haven over four months during the most recent Martian winter.

See the rest here: