After one failed attempt, the Mars rover Opportunity has defeated a literal slippery slope and left its home crater. Now it is 9 meters from the rim, well and truly out on the red soily plains. NASA is having a press briefing today to announce another significant scientific finding from the rover.

• Check out the Sol 057 Navcam photos for an idea of the rover’s new vista.
• I’ve started a discussion thread on the BadAstronomy.com message board about some strange features in the soil in this photo.
• Great mission sum-up from this informative BBC Q&A with Steve Squyres, lead scientist for the MER mission.
• New Mars wiggles! From Spirit at Bonneville Crater and Serpent Dune, and from Opportunity’s new position.

Update: Over at Mainly Martian, Oliver Morton expects that the announcement concerns geolocic evidence pointing to proof that Mars once had open water, in the form of lakes or seas.

Update, 2pm: “Opportunity is parked on what was once the shoreline of a salty sea on Mars.” More on Slashdot, Metafilter, Bad Astronomy, and Mainly Martian.