Science WireSpace

Mars Curiosity rover sends a postcard

Posted by
Deborah Byrd
and
October 10, 2015
View larger. | The foothills of Mount Sharp, the central peak within the Gale Crater on Mars.
View larger. | 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.

Check this out … NASA orbiter views real ‘Martian’ sites

View larger. | The foothills of Mount Sharp, the central peak within the Gale Crater on Mars.
View larger. | A postcard to you, from the Curiosity rover on Mars. Image taken September 9, 2015 by Curiosity. Image via NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS.
One of the first images from Curiosity of Mars' surface. Colors images should start coming in later today (August 7). Here's the shadow of the rover in the foreground, with Mt. Sharp in the background - a destination for the rover in its Mars exploration. Image Credit: NASA
Here’s one of the first images from Curiosity on Mars’ surface, acquired August 7, 2012, with Mount Sharp appearing in the distance. The shadow of the rover is in the foreground of this image. Image via NASA.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESA/DLR/FU Berlin/MSSS
Oblique view of Gale Crater, and Mount Sharp, derived from a combination of elevation and imaging data from three Mars orbiters. Green dot shows where the Curiosity rover landed, within its targeted landing ellipse outlined in blue. Mount Sharp rises about 3.4 miles (5.5 km) above the floor of Gale Crater. What’s labeled as Curiosity’s “planned” route in this image has been, more or less, its actual route. Curiosity is now in the foothills of Mount Sharp. Image via NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESA/DLR/FU Berlin/MSSS.

Bottom line: What NASA is calling a “postcard” – really, a spectacular composite image – from the surface of Mars. The Mars Curiosity rover captured the image on September 9, 2015.

BlueskyThreadsBuffer
Posted 
October 10, 2015
 in 
Science Wire

Deborah Byrd

View Articles
About the Author:
Our Editor-in-Chief Deborah Byrd works to keep all the astronomy balls in the air between EarthSky's website, YouTube page and social media platforms. She's the primary editor of our popular daily newsletter and a frequent host of EarthSky livestreams. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.

Like what you read?
Subscribe and receive daily news delivered to your inbox.

Your email address will only be used for EarthSky content. Privacy Policy
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

More from 

Deborah Byrd

View All
A total lunar eclipse looks red. Why?
March 13, 2025
Lunar eclipse: Tips for watching the eclipse tomorrow
March 12, 2025
Daylight saving time: 10 tips on how to make it easier
March 7, 2025
What’s a supermoon? Here are the supermoons in 2025
February 28, 2025