Space

Where the Curiosity rover is now on Mars

Posted by
Deborah Byrd
and
February 4, 2014
Sol 533 on Mars. Image via Curiosity/NASA / JPL-Caltech
View from the left NAVCAM of the Mars Curiosity rover on Sol 533 on Mars. That’s February 4, 2014 to us earthlings. Image via Curiosity/NASA / JPL-Caltech

NASA’s Curiosity rover has been making its way across the floor of the Gale Crater on Mars, heading for the base of Mount Sharp, the central peak in the crater. It’s in a particularly interesting place today (February 4, 2014), sitting atop a sand dune in a place called Dingo Gap on Mars. The images on this page are from Curiosity today, which, for this rover, is Sol 533 (a sol is a martian day; it’s 39 minutes and 35 seconds longer than a day on Earth).

Daniel Fischer (@cosmos4u) wrote on Twitter today:

Curiosity is standing atop the dune of Dingo Gap and has been looking around: go to midnightplanets.com/web/MSL/image/ and then click “Next” many times!

Do it! You’ll enjoy it. Thank you, Daniel!

NASA said on January 29, while reporting on the plan to send Curiosity over a small sand dune in Dingo Gap, that Curiosity has driven 865 feet (264.7 meters) since Jan. 1, for a total odometry of 3.04 miles (4.89 kilometers) since its August 2012 landing.

Explanation of Martian geology in and around Curiosity’s current location, from Emily Lakdawala of the Planetary Society.

Follow Curiosity’s path on Mars. It was only updated to Sol 532 last time I looked … one sol ago.

Alphabetical list of named rocks and areas on Mars, from Curiosity’s mission

Sol 533 on Mars. Image via Curiosity/NASA / JPL-Caltech
Emily Lakdawalla (@elakdawalla on Twitter) wrote on February 4: “This pic gives you an idea of Curiosity’s current tilt, parked [atop a small sand] dune; I measure it at 16 degrees. No sweat.” Image via Curiosity/NASA / JPL-Caltech
Bottom line: The Curiosity rover is in a particularly interesting place now, creeping across a sand dune in a place called Dingo Gap on Mars. Breathtaking images!

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February 4, 2014
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Deborah Byrd

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About the Author:
Deborah Byrd 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. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. 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.

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