Curiosity plays in a Martian sand dune

Close-up view of the edge of a Curiosity wheel track in the sand dune at Dingo Gap. Click for larger version. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech
Close-up view of the edge of a Curiosity wheel track in the sand dune at Dingo Gap. Click for larger version. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

Curiosity has also been taking a lot of close-up images of the sand dune which the rover has “toe-dipped” into. The rover’s wheels have left very distinct impressions in the very fine-grained sand within the dune, while the outside of the dune has a denser “crust” covered with many small rounded grains, similar to other dunes seen by the Spirit and Opportunity rovers. Whether or not Curiosity will actually drive through the dune (if deemed safe) to the other side of Dingo Gap or just go around hasn’t been decided yet, but in the meantime there are lots of new images to enjoy.

Close-up view of Curiosity wheel tracks impressions in the sand with the dune. Very fine detail can be seen such as in the lower right portion of the image. Click for larger version. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech
Close-up view of Curiosity wheel tracks impressions in the sand with the dune. Very fine detail can be seen such as in the lower right portion of the image. Click for larger version. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech
Close-up view of rounded grains on the surface of the sand dune. Click for larger version. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech
Close-up view of rounded grains on the surface of the sand dune. Click for larger version. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

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