Mars Curiosity rover sends a postcard

[Panich52]

EarthSky


The foothills of Mount Sharp, the central peak within the Gale Crater on Mars. Image via NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

NASA is calling the composite image above a postcard, and if you view the large version of the image, you’ll see why. It shows what you’d see if you were riding aboard the Curiosity rover on Mars, right now.

The car-sized Mars rover Curiosity rover – launched in late 2011, with touchdown on Mars in August, 2012 – has been studying the foothills of Mount Sharp since September, 2014. The rover moves slowly across Mars’ surface, with an average speed of about 100 feet (30 meters) per hour. Yet this slow, but sure motion of the rover is now carrying it up Mount Sharp, and this new composite image – taken on September 9, 2015 and released on October 2 – shows the direction in which Curiosity is going.

Curiosity Project Scientist Ashwin Vasavada said in an October 2 statement from NASA.

The only thing more stunning than these images is the thought that Curiosity will be driving through those lower hills one day.

We couldn’t help but send a postcard back to all those following her journey.

More info & pix
http://earthsky.org/space/mars-curiosity-rover-sends-a-postcard?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=8037e351d1-EarthSky_News&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-8037e351d1-393525109

[ffr]

1. Science is science. It shifts our brains into high gear.

Thank you NASA for the important work you do...and in the face of opposition from GOP members who defund or politicize your every move.

[longship]

2. Woo Hoo! The Mars Science Laboratory, often called "Curiosity"!

R&K

[Qutzupalotl]

3. Looks like sedimentary strata!

With the blue sky, it's very Earth-like (in appearance).

[friendly_iconoclast]

7. They *are* sedimentary strata

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

9. Refer to post 8...

It will explain the blue sky.
Or click link below.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia16769.html

[Binkie The Clown]

4. Any sign of Dejah Thoris yet? n/t

[Eleanors38]

10. I was looking for palms and a watering hole.

[byronius]

5. If anybody hasn't seen The Martian, go now.

Beautiful film. Powerful story. Once in a decade does something like this come along.

If you don't love Mars already, you will after watching that film.

I've only been twice so far.

[friendly_iconoclast]

6. Embiggened version:

Cut and paste the following address into your browser:

nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/pia19912-main_mcam-sol-1099.jpg

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

8. Raw color version...

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia16769.html

Read the caption below the photo. This is the raw image before color correction. As caption states this is what it would look like if you took a photo on your iPhone.