One of the best things about NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers are the amazing scenic photographs they send us from Mars. These photos give scientists a better view of our red neighbor and are also just cool to see. The latest image from Curiosity is a gorgeous panorama taken from Mars’ Mount Sharp region, and it’s an instant classic.
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The photo, which NASA posted on Dec. 30, is located along a ridge on the foothills of Mount Sharp, a 3-mile-high mountain that Curiosity has been slowly climbing since 2014. The mountain is smack dab in the middle of Gale Crater, and the photo is looking down the slope toward the crater’s floor. You can also see the rim of the crater in the background of the photo.
Curiosity was in the vicinity to collect more samples from a nearby spot known as Nevado Sajama. Eagle-eyed viewers may also see Curiosity’s tracks, which lead back to the Valle de la Luna dig site. Valle de la Luna shares its name with two Earth landmarks that are also known for their unique rocky structures that were carved out by wind and water erosion.
A whole day on Mars
Arguably the coolest part of the photo is when it was taken. The image was stitched together from raw photos taken on the 4,722nd and 4,723rd Martian days, or sols, and at different times of day. Curiosity took the first image at 4:15 p.m. on Sol 4,722 and the other at 8:20 a.m. on Sol 4,723. To save you a Google Search, the times translate to Nov. 18 here on Earth for both photos.
Once the images were stitched together, NASA colorized the image to show what early morning and afternoon might look like on the red planet. The image shows late afternoon on the orange side and morning on the blue side. NASA also notes that adding color helps differentiate the landscape and make minor details easier to see. It is also much more pleasing to look at when compared to the raw images that Curiosity sent home on those days.
This is the third such “postcard” taken by the Curiosity rover. The first one was in November 2021, and it was taken closer to the base of Mount Sharp. The second one came from Marker Band Valley, which is also located in the foothills of Mount Sharp.
