Curiosity’s tracks on Mars: the view from orbit

HiRISE image from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, taken on January 2, 2013, showing the Curiosity rover and the tracks it has left behind in its travels so far.Click for larger version. Credit: NASA / JPL / University of Arizona.
HiRISE image from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, taken on January 2, 2013, showing the Curiosity rover and the tracks it has left behind in its travels so far. Click for larger version.
Credit: NASA / JPL / University of Arizona.

The Curiosity rover continues making progress as it travels across the terrain in Gale crater, getting ever closer to its primary target, Mount Sharp. This new photo from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, taken on January 2, 2013, shows the rover at its current position, with its tracks clearly seen behind it.

The landing site is in the dark smudge on the left, an area where the descent engines blew off dust and soil from the underlying bedrock. The rover itself is the bright object on the right side of the image.

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