Tracking Curiosity The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter snapped this picture of Gale Crater last week, showing the complete mission progress of the Curiosity rover via its tire tracks. If you look at this awesoem hi-res version, you can follow the little guy from the burnt landing site at left to its current spot in Yellowknife Bay at right (you can even make out its wheels!) (More mission news at Wired Science. You might also want to check out the MRO HiRISE camera archive for more orbital shots of Mars.)
Pop-upView Separately

Tracking Curiosity

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter snapped this picture of Gale Crater last week, showing the complete mission progress of the Curiosity rover via its tire tracks.

If you look at this awesoem hi-res version, you can follow the little guy from the burnt landing site at left to its current spot in Yellowknife Bay at right (you can even make out its wheels!)

(More mission news at Wired Science. You might also want to check out the MRO HiRISE camera archive for more orbital shots of Mars.)

Source: Wired

marswiggles: Front Hazcam, Sol 149-150 — Turret dances as Curiosity rover brushes up on some geology. (I reordered a few GIF frames across two Sols to create the illusion of fluid shadow motion). Nibble. Nibble nibble. What a great blog. Lots more wonderful Mars GIF goodness at the link above!
View Separately

marswiggles:

Front Hazcam, Sol 149-150 — Turret dances as Curiosity rover brushes up on some geology. (I reordered a few GIF frames across two Sols to create the illusion of fluid shadow motion).

Nibble.

Nibble nibble.

What a great blog. Lots more wonderful Mars GIF goodness at the link above!

The Olde Curiosity Shot A new full-color self portrait was released this week, taken by the Curiosity rover’s MAHLI imager, stitched together from several shots (hence the disembodiedness to it all). Standing so proud, so ready to science, so prepared to rock the rocks. We’re in a new era of science excitement. I can feel it. Because I know I’m not the only one who smiles ear to ear when I look at these photos from another planet, seemingly sent with the ease that we Instagram our lunch, but full of a million times more promise than any sandwich.
Pop-upView Separately

The Olde Curiosity Shot

A new full-color self portrait was released this week, taken by the Curiosity rover’s MAHLI imager, stitched together from several shots (hence the disembodiedness to it all). Standing so proud, so ready to science, so prepared to rock the rocks.

We’re in a new era of science excitement. I can feel it. Because I know I’m not the only one who smiles ear to ear when I look at these photos from another planet, seemingly sent with the ease that we Instagram our lunch, but full of a million times more promise than any sandwich.

Mars and the Science of Skipping Stones Mars Science Laboratory project scientist John Grotzinger tells the story of how skipping stones, before they take flight across the smooth surface of a river or lake, are born of rushing water. The Curiosity rover has found “skipping stones” of its own in Gale Crater, and many tell a tale of a time when water flowed on Mars’ surface. Will that story include indications of previous life on Mars? Only time will tell. On Earth, everywhere we find water, we find life. Let’s see if that story is solely ours, or if it can be written on other planets as well. Those of us working on NASA’s Curiosity mission are haunted by waters as well. Where those ancient waters lead us remains to be seen, but they provide us with our roadmap. Now it’s just up to our instruments and our patience with a few detours if we feel the need to explore tributaries. (via NY Times)
Pop-upView Separately

Mars and the Science of Skipping Stones

Mars Science Laboratory project scientist John Grotzinger tells the story of how skipping stones, before they take flight across the smooth surface of a river or lake, are born of rushing water.

The Curiosity rover has found “skipping stones” of its own in Gale Crater, and many tell a tale of a time when water flowed on Mars’ surface.

Will that story include indications of previous life on Mars? Only time will tell. On Earth, everywhere we find water, we find life. Let’s see if that story is solely ours, or if it can be written on other planets as well.

Those of us working on NASA’s Curiosity mission are haunted by waters as well. Where those ancient waters lead us remains to be seen, but they provide us with our roadmap. Now it’s just up to our instruments and our patience with a few detours if we feel the need to explore tributaries.

(via NY Times)

Source: The New York Times