NASA’s Curiosity Rover Captures Martian Morning and Afternoon in a Single “Postcard”

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover used its black-and-white navigation cameras to capture stunning panoramas at different times of the day on April 8, 2023. These images were combined to create a breathtaking view of the landscape left behind by the rover.

Following a major software update in April, NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover bid farewell to “Marker Band Valley” and took a final snapshot of the scene, resulting in a captivating “postcard” of the area.

The postcard showcases an artistic interpretation of the landscape, with color enhancements applied to two black-and-white panoramas captured by Curiosity’s navigation cameras. The photos were taken on April 8 at 9:20 a.m. and 3:40 p.m., local Mars time, providing distinct lighting conditions that highlight various details in the scene. The morning images were infused with blue tones, while the afternoon images were enhanced with yellow tones, mirroring a similar postcard taken by Curiosity in November 2021.

The resulting image is truly remarkable. Curiosity finds itself in the foothills of Mount Sharp, a towering 3-mile (5-kilometer) peak located within Gale Crater, its exploration site since landing in 2012. In the distance, beyond the rover’s tracks, lies Marker Band Valley, a winding region in the “sulfate-bearing area” where the rover previously uncovered unexpected signs of an ancient lake. Notably, two hills named “Bolívar” and “Deepdale,” which Curiosity navigated between during its exploration of “Paraitepuy Pass,” can be seen further below, slightly to the right.

The image offers a glimpse past the rear of the rover, revealing its three antennas and nuclear power source. In the lower right corner, a white circle represents the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) instrument, which aids scientists in understanding radiation levels on Mars and how to protect future astronauts sent to the planet’s surface.

The depth of the shadows in the image is accentuated by the winter season, characterized by reduced airborne dust at Curiosity’s location when the photos were taken. Doug Ellison, a Curiosity engineer from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, noted that Mars’ shadows become sharper and deeper in low-dust conditions.

Curiosity, developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and managed by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), has been at the forefront of the mission on behalf of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. Launched on November 26, 2011, as part of the Mars Science Laboratory mission, the rover successfully landed on Mars on August 6, 2012.

Curiosity is significantly larger than its predecessors, measuring approximately 10 feet long (excluding the arm), 9 feet wide, and 7 feet tall, similar to a small SUV. It is equipped with a wide range of advanced scientific instruments to fulfill its primary objectives: studying the Martian climate and geology, evaluating whether Gale Crater ever offered favorable environmental conditions for microbial life, and conducting planetary habitability studies to prepare for future human exploration.

The rover’s capabilities include collecting and analyzing soil and crushed rock samples for signs of organic compounds and past environmental conditions suitable for microbial life. It also possesses a drilling mechanism to extract samples from inside rocks, high-resolution cameras for detailed imaging, and an array of other tools necessary for its scientific endeavors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Mars rover

More about Mars rover

• NASA’s Curiosity Mars Rover Mission
• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
• NASA Science Mission Directorate
• Gale Crater
• Mount Sharp
• Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD)
• Curiosity Rover Instruments
• Mars Science Laboratory Mission
• Mars Exploration Program