A new image from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows Curiosity on the rover’s walkabout examination of the Pahrump Hills outcrop. The outcrop forms part of the basal layer of Mount Sharp inside Gale Crater.
Curiosity rover can be seen at the Pahrump Hills area of Gale Crater in this view from the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / University of Arizona.
The region contains sedimentary rocks that scientists believe formed in the presence of water.
The location of the rover, with its shadow extending toward the upper right, is indicated with an inscribed rectangle.
The view covers an area approximately 330 meters across. North is toward the top.
HiRISE camera – one of six instruments aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter – made the observation on December 13, 2014.
At that time, Curiosity was near a feature called Whale Rock.
The bright features in the landscape are sedimentary rock and the dark areas are sand.
The HiRISE team plans to periodically image Curiosity, as well as NASA’s other active Mars rover, Opportunity, as the vehicles continue to explore the Red Planet.
