Image Gallery: foothills of Mount Sharp (white-balanced)

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Another beautiful panoramic image of the foothills of Mount Sharp, taken by Curiosity on Sep. 9, 2015. The mesas, buttes and valleys can be seen in greater detail as the rover keeps getting closer. The image has been white-balanced to show the terrain under more Earth-like lighting conditions. The full-size version of the image is available here.

Read MoreImage Gallery: foothills of Mount Sharp (white-balanced)

Image Gallery: Martian ‘spoons’ and ‘needles’

"Spoon" #1 seen by Curiosity on sol 1089. Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
“Spoon” #1 seen by Curiosity on sol 1089. Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Wind-eroded rocks on Mars can take many different forms, sometimes resembling common earthly objects. Some good new examples include these long, thin slivers of rock which look like “spoons” and “needles,” seen by the Curiosity rover recently on sols 1089 and 1087. These fragile formations are easier to form in Mars’ weaker gravity and thinner atmosphere and can last much longer than they would on Earth – a unique form of Martian “artwork.”

Read MoreImage Gallery: Martian ‘spoons’ and ‘needles’

Image Gallery: new views of Mount Sharp foothills

Foothills on Mount Sharp. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/Lars (@LarsTheWanderer)
Foothills on Mount Sharp. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/Lars (@LarsTheWanderer)

There are a couple new views of the foothills on Mount Sharp from the Curiosity rover, and they are beautiful. Many layers, mesas and buttes are visible, reminiscent of the American southwest. Curiosity will keep getting closer in the weeks and months ahead. Image processing by Lars (@LarsTheWanderer).

Read MoreImage Gallery: new views of Mount Sharp foothills