The image was taken by Opportunity's front hazard avoidance camera on Jan. 5, 2016, during the 4,248th Martian day, or sol, of the rover's work on Mars. Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Opportunity, NASA’s longest-running Mars rover, has finally been declared dead after it went dark eight months ago following a dust storm, the Associated Press reports.
The big picture: Opportunity landed on Mars in January 2004 and was originally intended to operate for just 90 days. Over the course of its 15-year lifespan, in which it covered a record 28 miles, Opportunity found evidence that ancient Mars had water and was likely capable of sustaining life.