Space

Curiosity rover’s self-portrait on Mars

Posted by

and

August 19, 2012

NASA’s Curiosity rover on Mars is indeed a marvelous machine. If you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to check out the high-def 360-degreee panorama of Mars that the rover captured last week. The rover also released this self-portrait, showing its own deck as viewed by its Navigation camera. The back of the rover can be seen at the top left of the image, and two of the rover’s right side wheels can be seen on the left. The undulating rim of Gale Crater forms the lighter color strip in the background. Bits of gravel, about 0.4 inches (1 centimeter) in size, are visible on the deck of the rover.

Curiosity_self_portrait — NASA’s new Curiosity rover on Mars snapped its own self-portrait on August 8, 2012. Click here to expand image.

NASA says this mosaic is made of 20 images, each of 1,024 by 1,024 pixels, taken late at night on August 7 PDT (morning August 8 UTC).

Deborah Byrd

View Articles

About the Author:

Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. 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 in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. 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.