Amazing Mars Photos by NASA's Curiosity Rover (Latest Images)

By SPACE.com Staff | August 4, 2016 04:00pm ET

360-Degree Curiosity Rover Video

This image shows a screengrab of the 360 degree YouTube video, Curiosity's deck, Namib Dune and Mount Sharp in shot.

Curiosity Rover Namib Dune

This Dec. 17, 2015, view combines multiple images from the telephoto-lens camera of the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover to reveal fine details of the downwind face of "Namib Dune."

Curiosity Rover and Mars Sand Dunes

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity captured this self-portrait at the Namib Dune of the Bagnold Dune Field.

Otjizonjati Outcrop on Mars by Curiosity

This image from NASA's Mars rover Curiosity shows what scientists have dubbed the Otjizonjati outcrop in the distance to the northwest. The rover took this image around June 2, 2016 and will take a 10-image full panorama when the outcrop is well lit by sunlight.

Mars by NASA's Curiosity Rover

Mars as viewed by NASA's Curiosity rover. Nice vistas, but what does the Red Planet smell like?

Mars Rover Curiosity at Drill Site, May 2016

NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity took this self-portrait on May 11, 2016 at the "Okoruso" drilling site in the foothills of Mount Sharp.

Mars Rover Curiosity at 'Windjana' Site

This photo shows NASA's Mars rover Curiosity at a location called "Windjana," where the rover found rocks containing manganese-oxide minerals, which require abundant water and strongly oxidizing conditions to form

Keep on Truckin'

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has been snapping amazing photos of the Red Planet since its landing in 2012. Here: The team operating NASA's Curiosity Mars rover uses the MAHLI camera on the rover's arm to check the condition of the wheels at routine intervals. Read the full story behind this photo.

Mars Curiosity Rover Selfie

The Mars Curiosity rover took a selfie from the surface of the Red Planet. The next Mars rover, Mars 2020, might carry a microphone to pick up sounds on the planet's surface.

Mars Rover Curiosity Fires Laser Autonomously

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover autonomously selects some targets for its laser-blasting ChemCam instrument. For example, onboard software analyzed the image at left, chose the target indicated with a yellow dot and pointed ChemCam for laser shots and the image at right.

Gale Crater Morning View

This early-morning view from the Mastcam on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover on March 16, 2016, covers a portion of the inner wall of Gale Crater. At right, the image fades into glare of the rising sun. Read the full story behind this photo.

Naukluft Plateau on Mars

This 360-degree panorama from the Mastcam on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows the rugged surface of "Naukluft Plateau" plus upper Mount Sharp at right and part of the rim of Gale Crater. Read the full story behind this photo.

Mars Rover Curiosity Studies Rock Target 'Marimba'

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity took this photo on Aug. 2, 2016, during its close-up investigation of a rock target called "Marimba" on the lower slopes of Mount Sharp.

Mars Rover Curiosity's Sample-Collection Sites

Graphic showing locations of the first 14 sites where NASA's Mars rover Curiosity collected rock or soil samples for analysis.

Curiosity Spent Christmas in "Grandma's House"

Curiosity spent its first Christmas on Mars on "Grandma's House," a previously unexplored part of Yellowknife Bay in the Gale Crater. Image taken Dec. 12, 2012.

Two Years on Mars: Curiosity Infogrpahic

NASA's Curiosity rover has completed two Martian years on the Red Planet, documenting seasonal patterns at its Gale Crater home since landing in 2012.

Is that a Spoon on Mars? No.

Among the amazing Mars images by Curiosity are some head-scratchers like this one. Here, we've circled a spoon-shaped rock spotted by Curiosity on Aug. 30, 2015. Read the full story here.

See more amazing Mars photos by the Curiosity rover in this gallery.

Raw Image: Spoon on Mars

This image is the raw photo from the Mars rover Curiosity showing a weird spoon-shaped rock jutting out from an outcrop. Read the full story here.

A Selfie on Mars

The rover captures an stunning selfie while drilling at a site known as Pahrump Hills. Read the Full Story Behind the Photo.

Curiosity Mars Rover Self-Portrait on Aug. 5, 2015

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover drilled into a rock target called "Buckskin" on lower Mount Sharp as seen in a self-portrait which combined several images taken by Curiosity's Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) on Aug. 5, 2015. Image released Aug. 19, 2015.

Curiosity Mars Rover Stereographic Projection

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has taken a self-portrait at a drilling site called "Buckskin." Here the image is presented as a stereographic projection, which shows the horizon as a circle. Image released Aug. 19, 2015.

Curiosity Mars Rover Low-Angle Self-Portrait

Curiosity Mars rover took a low-angle self-portrait on Aug. 5, 2015, above the "Buckskin" rock target in the "Marias Pass" area of lower Mount Sharp. Image released Aug. 19, 2015.

Curiosity Mars Rover DAN Observations

Mars rover Curiosity's DAN instrument for measuring hydration levels in the ground detected an unusually high amount at a site near "Marias Pass," prompting several passes over the area to map the hydrogen amounts. Image released Aug. 19, 2015.

Test Rover Practices Taking Self-Portrait

A test rover at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California conducts advance testing of arm positions and camera pointings so that Curiosity Mars rover can take a self-portrait. Image released Aug. 19, 2015.

Curiosity Rover's Sample of Powdered Rock

This image from NASA's Curiosity rover shows the first sample of powdered rock extracted by the rover's drill from the Yellowknife study site. Curiosity used its Mastcam on Sol 193 (Feb. 20, 2013) of its mission to capture this photo.

Curiosity Rover View of Mineral Veins

This March 18, 2015, view from the Mast Camera on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows a network of two-tone mineral veins at an area called "Garden City" on lower Mount Sharp.

Curiosity Close-up of 'Garden City' Mineral Veins

This image, taken by the Curiosity rover's Mars Hand Lens Imager on Mars 25, 2015, is a close-up of a two-tone mineral vein at the Garden City site in the lower reaches of Mount Sharp.

Curiosity Rover's Progress Toward Mars Marathon, Sol 3948

This map shows the route NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has taken, as it approaches a driving distance equivalent to a marathon footrace. Image released March 5, 2015.

Curiosity's Arm on Sol 915

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover held its arm in the same position for several days after a transient short circuit triggered onboard fault-protection programming to halt arm activities on Feb. 27, 2015.

Curiosity Rover Drills Hole at Telegraph Peak

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity drilled this sample-collecting hole into a rock called Telegraph Peak on Feb. 24, 2015.

Mars Rover Curiosity at Telegraph Peak

This raw-color image captured by the Mars rover Curiosity's Mastcam shows the robot's drill just after finishing a drilling operation at an outcrop called Telegraph Peak on Feb. 24, 2015.

Curiosity Rover Sample Hole in Mojave 2 Target

The sample hole created by NASA's Curiosity rover in the Mojave 2 target can be seen in this image.

Mars Curiosity Rover Robot

Robots exploring other worlds, such as the Mars Curiosity rover, require some autonomy as the controllers are stuck on Earth.

Possible Methane Sources and Sinks

This diagram depicts potential means by which methane might incorporate into Mars' atmosphere (sources) and disappear from the atmosphere (sinks). Image released Dec. 16, 2014. [Read Curiosity Rover Finds Methane on Mars: What It Could Mean for Life.]

'Cumberland' Target Drilled by Curiosity

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity drilled a circular hole into this rock target, "Cumberland," on May 19, 2013. [Read Curiosity Rover Finds Methane on Mars: What It Could Mean for Life.]

Curiosity Photo of 'Whale Rock' on Mars

This strange formation has been dubbed "Whale Rock" by scientists and reveals a detailed view of crossbedding, signs that Curiosity's Gale Crater landing site was once a vast lake. Read the Full Story.

Curiosity Mars Rover's Route

This map shows the route driven by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover from its landing spot in August 2012 to the "Pahrump Hills" outcrop, part of Mount Sharp on Nov. 23, 2014. Image released Dec. 8, 2014.

Simulated View of Gale Crater Lake on Mars

This artist's illustration shows a lake of water partially filling Gale Crater on Mars. Image released Dec. 8, 2014.

'Mount Sharp' Inside Gale Crater, Mars

Mount Sharp lies within Gale Crater on Mars. Image released March 28, 2012.

Martian Sandstone Beds Near 'Kimberley'

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows the view just north of the "Kimberley" waypoint where beds of sandstone incline to the southwest toward Mount Sharp and away from the Gale Crater rim. Image released Dec. 8, 2014.

Sedimentary Signs of a Martian Lakebed

NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover saw a pattern typical of a lake-floor sedimentary deposit close to a location where flowing water entered a lake. Image released Dec. 8, 2014.

Crystals May Have Formed in Drying Martian Lake

Curiosity Mars rover obtained this magnified view of a Martian rock target called "Mojave," containing lozenge-shaped crystals. Image released Dec. 8, 2014.

Bedding Pattern Interpreted as Martian Delta Deposition

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover sees this view to the south at the Kimberley waypoint. Multiple sandstone beds in the foreground display systematic inclination possibly indicating progressive build-out of the sediments toward Mount Sharp.

Mars Target Area 'Alexander Hills'

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover approached a swath of bedrock called "Alexander Hills," in order to make close-up inspection of selected targets. The component exposures for this mosaic were taken on Nov. 23, 2014.

Thigh Bone on Mars? No, Just a Rock

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has photographed a strange rock that, while it may look like a femur bone, is still just another rock on the Martian surface, despite some claims. Read the Full Story Here.

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity is snapping amazing photos of the Red Planet and blazing a trail of discoveries. See more amazing Mars photos by Curiosity in this Space.com gallery.

'Pink Cliffs' Resist Erosion on Mars

A small ridge on Mars, about 3 feet (1 meter) in length, appears to resist wind erosion more than the flatter plates around it. Curiosity rover's obtained the images in this mosaic on Oct. 7, 2014.

Fine-Grained Rock at Base of Martian Mount Sharp

A patch of Martian bedrock, about 2 feet (70 centimeters) across appears to consist of finely layered rock with some pea-size inclusions. NASA's Curiosity Mars rover acquired this view on Nov. 9, 2014.

Ripple's Interior Exposed by Curioisty Rover's Wheel

A wheel track deliberately cuts through a windblown ripple of dusty sand in this composite image taken by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover on Nov. 7, 2014.

Ripples Next to 'Pahrump Hills' Outcrop at Base of Mount Sharp on Mars

Curiosity's Mars rover looked northeast from the lower edge of the pale "Pahrump Hills" outcrop at the base of Mount Sharp on Nov. 13, 2014. Wind-shaped ripples of sand and dust are visible in the middle distance.

Iron Meteorite on Mars Found by Curiosity

A view of Curiosity's first meteorite discovery on Mars. These iron meteorites, called Lebanon (larger rock) and Lebanon B (smaller rock in foreground) were discovered by Curiosity on May 25, 2014. The larger Lebanon rock is nearly 7 feet (2 meters) wide. NASA released this photo on July 15, 2014. Read the Full Story Here.

Meteorites Seen by Mars Rover Curiosity

The first three meteorites discovered by NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars can be seen in this navigational camera photo captured on May 25, 2014. The larger meteorite in the foreground, called Lebanon, is about 7 feet (2 meters) wide. Behind Lebanon is another meteorite of about the same size. A third meteorite, called Lebanon B, is smaller and sits near its Lebanon parent. All three meteorites are made of iron. Read the Full Story Here.

NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover Inspects Drill Site

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has driven within robotic-arm's reach of the sandstone slab at the center of this April 23 view from the rover's Mast Camera. The rover team plans to have Curiosity examine a target patch on the rock, called "Windjana," to aid a decision about whether to drill there.

Curiosity Mars Rover Beside Sandstone Target 'Windjana'

This image from the Navigation Camera on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows a sandstone slab on which the rover team has selected a target, "Windjana," for close-up examination. The target is on the approximately 2-foot-wide rock seen in the right half of this April 23, 2014, view.

Curiosity Asteroid Photo

NASA's Curiosity rover snapped an image of the asteroids Ceres and Vesta while taking a shot of the Martian moon Deimos on April 20, 2014 PDT. In other images from that photo session, Curiosity also captured Mars' other moon, Phobos, and the planets Jupiter and Saturn. [Read the Full Story Here]

Ceres and Vesta from Mars

The brightest object in this image, taken by NASA's Curiosity rover, is the Martian moon Deimos. The asteroids Ceres and Vesta appear as short faint streaks in the upper half of the image, which marks the first time that asteroids have been photographed from the Martian surface. [Read the Full Story Here]

Curiosity and Rover Tracks at 'the Kimberley,' April 2014

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover and tracks from its driving are visible in this view from orbit, acquired on April 11, 2014, by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The rover is near the largest butte in the lower left quadrant of the image, at about a two o'clock position relative to the butte. It appears bright blue in the exaggerated color of this image. [Read the Full Story Behind this Photo Here]

Stereo View of Curiosity and Rover Tracks at 'the Kimberley,' April 2014

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover and tracks from its driving are visible in this view combining information from three observations by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The image appears three-dimensional when viewed through red-blue glasses with the red lens on the left. Image obtained April 11, 2014. [Read the Full Story Behind this Photo Here]

'Mount Remarkable' and Surrounding Outcrops at Mars Rover's Waypoint

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover used its Navigation Camera (Navcam) to record this scene of a butte called "Mount Remarkable" and surrounding outcrops at a waypoint called "the Kimberley" inside Gale Crater. The butte stands about 16 feet (5 meters) high. Image added April 16, 2014. [Read the Full Story Behind this Photo Here]

Curiosity's View From Arrival Point at 'The Kimberley' Waypoint

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover recorded this view of various rock types at waypoint called "the Kimberley" shortly after arriving at the location on April 2, 2014. The site offers a diversity of rock types exposed close together in a decipherable geological relationship to each other. [Read the Full Story Behind this Photo Here]

Day Before Curiosity's Final Approach Drive to 'the Kimberley' Waypoint

This view from NASA's Curiosity Mars rover was taken the day before the rover's final approach drive to "the Kimberley" waypoint, selected months ago as the location for the mission's next major investigations. It combines several frames taken by the Navigation Camera on April 1, 2014. [Read the Full Story Behind this Photo Here]

Curiosity Mars Rover's Route from Landing to 'The Kimberley' Waypoint

This map shows the route driven by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover from the "Bradbury Landing" location where it landed in August 2012 (the start of the line in upper right) to a major waypoint called "the Kimberley." [Read the Full Story Behind this Photo Here]

Sandstone Layers Near the Kimberley Curiosity View

Sandstone layers with varying resistance to erosion are evident in this Martian scene recorded by the Mast Camera on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover on Feb. 25, 2014, about one-quarter mile (about 400 meters) from a planned waypoint called "the Kimberley." [Read the Full Story Behind This Photo Here]

Curiosity 360-Degree View Toward Waypoint at ‘the Kimberley’

This view from NASA's Curiosity Mars rover spans 360 degrees, centered southward toward a planned science waypoint at "the Kimberley," with an outcrop of eroded sandstone in the foreground. [Read the Full Story Behind This Photo Here]

Martian Landscape With Rock Rows and Mount Sharp

This landscape scene photographed by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows rows of rocks in the foreground and Mount Sharp on the horizon. [Read the Full Story Behind This Photo Here]

Panoramic View From West of 'Dingo Gap'

This scene looking back at where Curiosity crossed a dune at "Dingo Gap" combines several exposures taken by the Navigation Camera (Navcam) high on the rover's mast. [Read the Full Story Behind This Photo Here]

Curiosity's View Back After Passing 'Junda' Striations

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover used the Navigation Camera (Navcam) on its mast for this look back after finishing a drive of 328 feet (100 meters) on the 548th Martian day, or sol, of the rover's work on Mars (Feb. 19, 2014). [Read the Full Story Behind This Photo Here]

Curiosity Rover Sees Earth and Moon from Mars (Inset)

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity took this photo of Earth from the surface of Mars on Jan. 31, 2014, 40 minutes after local sunset, using the left-eye camera on its mast. The inset shows a zoomed-in view of the Earth and moon in the image. [Read the Full Story Behind the Photos Here]

Earth from Mars by NASA's Curiosity Rover

This annotated view points out Earth in the Mars night sky as seen by NASA's Curiosity rover on Jan. 31, 2014 about 80 minutes after local sunset. [Read the Full Story Behind the Photos Here]

Earth from Mars: Curiosity Rover Photo

This view of the twilight sky and Martian horizon taken by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover includes Earth as the brightest point of light in the night sky. Earth is a little left of center in the image, and our moon is just below Earth. The Curiosity rover snapped the photo on Jan. 31, 2014. [Read the Full Story Behind the Photos Here]

Martian Valley Possible Curiosity Route

This view combines several frames taken by the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity, looking into a valley to the west from the eastern side of a dune at the eastern end of the valley. The team operating Curiosity has chosen this valley as a likely route toward mid-term and long-term science destinations. Image released Feb. 3, 2014.

Curiosity Rover at Dingo Gap (3D)

This stereo mosaic of images from the Navigation Camera on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity shows the terrain to the west from the rover's position on Jan. 30, 2014. The scene appears three dimensional when viewed through red-blue glasses with the red lens on the left. [Read the Full Story Here]

Curiosity Mars Rover Approaches 'Dingo Gap'

On Jan. 28, 2014, Curiosity Mars Rover used its Mast Camera to take the images combined in this scene. The sand dune in the upper center of the image spans a gap, called "Dingo Gap," between two short scarps. The dune is about 3 feet (1 meter) high. The nearer edge of it is about 115 feet (35 meters) away from the rover.

Full-Circle Vista During Curiosity's Approach to 'Dingo Gap' (Stereo)

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity obtained this stereo mosaic of images using its Navigation Camera, showing the terrain surrounding the rover's position Jan. 26, 2014. (The scene appears three dimensional when viewed through red-blue glasses with the red lens on the left.) The view covers a full 360 degrees, centered toward the east, with west at both the left and right ends. The far horizon on the left is the rim of Gale Crater. Just below the darker, nearer horizon is a sand dune at a location called "Dingo Gap."

Traverse Map for Mars Rover Curiosity as of Jan. 26, 2014

This map shows the route that NASA's Curiosity Mars rover drove inside Gale Crater from its landing in August 2013 through Jan. 26, 2014. The rover is approaching a gap between two low scarps, "Dingo Gap."

Crystal-Laden Martian Rock Examined by Curiosity's Laser Instrument

On Jan. 15, 2014, NASA's Mars rover Curiosity used its Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) instrument to examine a rock target called "Harrison" with its Remote Micro-Imaging (RMI) camera and its laser. This is an RMI image of the rock, which is loose on the surface inside Gale Crater, not part of an outcrop. Harrison contains elongated, light-colored crystals in a darker matrix. The 4.5-millimeter scale bar at lower right is about one-sixth of an inch long. Some of the crystals are up to about 0.4 inch (1 centimeter) in size.

Curiosity Mars Rover from Space: Color

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover and tracks left by its driving appear in this portion of a Dec. 11, 2013, observation by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The rover is near the lower-left corner of this view. For scale, the two parallel lines of the wheel tracks are about 10 feet (3 meters) apart. Image released Jan. 9, 2014. [Read the Full Story Behind the Photo Here]

Curiosity Mars Rover from Space

Curiosity Trekking, Viewed from Orbit in December 2013

Mars Laser

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover is equipped with a Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) instrument to fire lasers at targets. In late October 2013, a Martian rock called "Ithaca," that received the rover's 100,000th zapping. [Read the Full Story Here

Darwin' Outcrop at 'Waypoint 1' of Curiosity's Trek to Mount Sharp

An outcrop visible as light-toned streaks in the lower center of this image has been chosen as a place for NASA's Mars rover Curiosity to study for a few days in September 2013. The pause for observations at this area, called "Waypoint 1," is the first during the rover's trek of many months from the "Glenelg" area where it worked for the first half of 2013 to an entry point to the lower layers of Mount Sharp. This pale outcrop is informally named "Darwin." Image released Sept. 10, 2013. [Read the Full Story Here]

Curiosity's View from 'Panorama Point' to 'Waypoint 1' and Outcrop 'Darwin'

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity captured this view using its Navigation Camera (Navcam) after reaching the top of a rise called "Panorama Point" with a drive during the 388th Martian day, or sol, of the rover's work on Mars (Sept. 8, 2013). [Read the Full Story Here]

Curiosity Rover Photographs Martian Solar Eclipse

This set of three images taken three seconds apart by NASA's Curiosity rover shows the larger of Mars' two moons, Phobos, passing in front of the sun on Aug. 20, 2013. [Read the Full Story Here]

Curiosity Drives Solo for First Time

This mosaic of images from the Navigation Camera (Navcam) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity shows the scene from the rover's position on the 376th Martian day, or sol, of the mission (Aug. 27, 2013). The images were taken right after Curiosity completed the first drive during which it used autonomous navigation on unknown ground. [Read the Full Story ]

Curiosity Rover's Road to Mount Sharp

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity left the "Glenelg" area on July 4, 2013, for the base of Mount Sharp. As of Aug. 27, 2013, Curiosity had driven about 0.86 mile since leaving Glenelg, with about 4.46 miles remaining to get to the entry point. [Read the Full Story ]

Two Moons of Mars in One Enhanced View

This view of the two moons of Mars comes from a set of images taken by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity as the larger moon, Phobos, passed in front of the smaller one, Deimos, from Curiosity's perspective, on Aug. 1, 2013. [Read the Full Story]

Before and After Occultation of Deimos by Phobos

These six images from NASA's Mars rover Curiosity show the two moons of Mars moments before (left three) and after (right three) the larger moon, Phobos, occulted Deimos on Aug. 1, 2013. On each side, the top image is earlier in time than the ones beneath it. [Read the Full Story]

Illustration Comparing Apparent Sizes of Mars' Moons

This illustration provides a comparison for how big the moons of Mars appear to be, as seen from the surface of Mars, in relation to the size that Earth's moon appears to be when seen from the surface of Earth. Deimos, at far left, and Phobos, beside it, are shown together as they actually were photographed by the Mast Camera (Mastcam) NASA's Mars rover Curiosity on Aug. 1, 2013. [Read the Full Story]

Curiosity Rover's Longest Drive Yet

This image captured by Curiosity's Mars Hand Lens Imager camera looks toward the south, showing a portion of Mount Sharp and a band of dark dunes in front of the mountain. The photo was taken on the 340th Martian day, or sol, of Curiosity's work on Mars, shortly after Curiosity finished a 329-foot drive on that sol. Image released on July 23, 2013. [Read the Full Story]

Curiosity Rover Drives 1 Kilometer on Mars

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover captured this image with its left front Hazard-Avoidance Camera (Hazcam) just after completing a drive that took the mission's total driving distance past the 1 kilometer (0.62 mile) mark. Image released July 17, 2013. [Read the Full Story]

Curiosity Rover Heads Toward Mount Sharp

This view from the left Navigation Camera of NASA's Mars Rover Curiosity looks back at wheel tracks made during the robot's first drive toward Mount Sharp on July 4, 2013. The base of Mount Sharp, which lies about 5 miles away, is Curiosity's main destination. [Read the Full Story]

Curiosity Image of Mars Moonrise

The tiny Mars moon Phobos (circled) rises into the Red Planet sky in this image captured on June 28, 2013 by NASA's Curiosity rover. [Read the Full Story]

Billion-Pixel Mars Mosaic from Curiosity Rover

This is a reduced version of a mosaic from NASA's Mars rover Curiosity containing 1.3 billion pixels in the full-resolution version. It shows Curiosity at the "Rocknest" site, where the rover scooped up samples of windblown dust and sand. Viewers can explore this image with pan and zoom controls at http://mars.nasa.gov/bp1/. Read the Full Story.

MSL's Parachute Flapping in the Wind

This image from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is part of a sequence of seven images showing wind-caused changes in the parachute of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft as the chute lay on the Martian ground during months after its use in safe landing of the Curiosity rover. The parachute decelerated Curiosity's descent through the Martian atmosphere on Aug. 5, 2012 (PST; Aug. 6, UTC). HiRISE acquired the images on seven dates from Aug. 12, 2012, to Jan. 13, 2013.

View From Camera Not Used During Curiosity's First Six Months on Mars

This view of Curiosity's left-front and left-center wheels and of marks made by wheels on the ground in the "Yellowknife Bay" area comes from one of six cameras used on Mars for the first time more than six months after the rover landed. The left Navigation Camera (Navcam) linked to Curiosity's B-side computer took this image during the 223rd Martian day, or sol, of Curiosity's work on Mars, March 22, 2013.

Mount Sharp Panorama in White-Balanced Colors

This mosaic of images from the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity shows Mount Sharp in a white-balanced color adjustment that makes the sky look overly blue but shows the terrain as if under Earth-like lighting. The component images were taken during the 45th Martian day, or sol, of Curiosity's mission on Mars (Sept. 20, 2012). Image released March 15, 2013.

Mount Sharp Panorama in Raw Colors

This mosaic of images from the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity shows Mount Sharp in raw color as recorded by the camera. Raw color shows the scene's colors as they would look in a typical smart-phone camera photo, before any adjustment. The component images were taken during the 45th Martian day, or sol, of Curiosity's mission on Mars (Sept. 20, 2012). Image released March 15, 2013.

Target 'Wernecke' After Brushing by Curiosity

The gray area in the center of this image is where the Dust Removal Tool on the robotic arm of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity brushed a rock target called "Wernecke." Image released March 18, 2013.

Hydration Map, Based on Mastcam Spectra, for 'Knorr' Rock Target

On this image of the rock target "Knorr," color coding maps the amount of mineral hydration indicated by a ratio of near-infrared reflectance intensities measured by the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity. Image released March 18, 2013.

Elemental Compositions of 'Yellowknife Bay' Rocks

Researchers have used the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) instrument on the robotic arm of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity. Image released March 18, 2013.

Indication of Hydration in Veins and Nodules of 'Knorr' in 'Yellowknife Bay'

At different locations on the surface of the same rock, scientists can use the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity to measure the amount of reflected light at a series of different wavelengths. Image released March 18, 2013.

Close-up View of Broken Mars Rock 'Tintina'

This close-up view of "Tintina" was taken by the rover's Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) on Sol 160 (Jan. 17, 2013) and shows interesting linear textures in the bright white material on the rock.

Rock 'Tintina' Exposes 'Yellowknife Bay' Vein Material

This raw image of "Tintina," a broken rock fragment in a rover wheel track, was taken by Curiosity's Mast Camera (Mastcam). Image released March 18, 2013.

Hydration Map, Based on Mastcam Spectra, for broken rock 'Tintina'

On this image of the broken rock called "Tintina," color coding maps the amount of mineral hydration indicated by a ratio of near-infrared reflectance intensities measured by the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity. Image released March 18, 2013.

Filters for Color Imaging and for Science

The color cameras on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity, including the pair that make up the rover's Mast Camera (Mastcam) instrument, use the same type of Bayer pattern RGB filter as found in typical commercial color cameras. Image released March 18, 2013.

Using Curiosity's Mast Camera to View Scene in 'Natural' Color

This image of terrain inside Mars' Gale Crater and the inset of the calibration target for the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity illustrate how the calibration target aids researchers in adjusting images to estimate "natural" color, or approximately what the colors would look like if we were to view the scene ourselves on Mars, using the known colors of materials on the target. Image released March 18, 2013.

Using False Color from Curiosity's Mast Camera

This image of terrain inside Mars' Gale Crater and the inset of the calibration target for the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity illustrate how false color can be used to make differences more evident in the materials in the scene. Image released March 18, 2013.

Veins and Nodules at 'Knorr' Target in 'Yellowknife Bay' of Gale Crater

Light-toned nodules and veins are visible in this image from NASA's Mars rover Curiosity of a patch of sedimentary rock called "Knorr." Image released March 18, 2013.

'Raw,' 'Natural' and 'White-Balanced' Views of Martian Terrain

These three versions of the same image taken by the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity illustrate different choices that scientists can make in presenting the colors recorded by the camera. Image released March 18, 2013.

Bluish-Black Rock with White 'Crystals' on Mars

The Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity showed researchers interesting color and patterns in this unnamed rock imaged during the 27th Martian day, or sol, of the rover's work on Mars (Sept. 2, 2012).

Two Different Aqueous Environments

This set of images compares rocks seen by NASA's Opportunity rover and Curiosity rover at two different parts of Mars. On the left is " Wopmay" rock, in Endurance Crater, Meridiani Planum, as studied by the Opportunity rover. On the right are the rocks of the "Sheepbed" unit in Yellowknife Bay, in Gale Crater, as seen by Curiosity. Image released March 12, 2013.

Minerals at 'Rocknest' and 'John Klein'

This side-by-side comparison shows the X-ray diffraction patterns of two different samples collected from the Martian surface by NASA's Curiosity rover. Image released March 12, 2013.

An Earth Analog to Mars' Yellowknife Bay

This set of images shows a modern terrestrial analog to the "Yellowknife Bay" area that NASA's Curiosity rover is exploring. At left is a sampling pit exposing clay-bearing lake sediments, deposited in a basaltic basin in southern Australia. At right is a core sample from the lakebed, showing clay-rich, layered sediments. Image released March 12, 2013.

Location of John Klein Drill Site

This false-color map shows the area within Gale Crater on Mars, where NASA's Curiosity rover landed on Aug. 5, 2012 PDT (Aug. 6, 2012 EDT) and the location where Curiosity collected its first drilled sample at the "John Klein" rock. Image released March 12, 2013.

Studying Habitability in Ancient Martian Environments

This set of images shows the results from the rock abrasion tool from NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity (left) and the drill from NASA's Curiosity rover (right). Note how the rock grindings from Opportunity are brownish red, indicating the presence of hematite, a strongly oxidized iron-bearing mineral. Image released March 12, 2013.

Major Gases Released from Drilled Samples of the "John Klein" Rock

An analysis of a drilled rock sample from NASA's Curiosity rover shows the presence of water, carbon dioxide, oxygen, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide released on heating. The results analyzing the high temperature water release are consistent with smectite clay minerals. Image released March 12, 2013.

Chlorinated Forms of Methane at "John Klein" Site

NASA's Curiosity rover has detected the simple carbon-containing compounds chloro- and dichloromethane from the powdered rock sample extracted from the "John Klein" rock on Mars. These species were detected by the gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GCMS) on Curiosity's Sample Analysis at Mars instrument (SAM). Image released March 12, 2013.

Curiosity Rover's Mars 'Hood Ornament' Photo

A shiny-looking Martian rock is visible in this image taken by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity's Mast Camera (Mastcam) during the mission's 173rd Martian day, or sol (Jan. 30, 2013). Read the full story.

Mars Rover Curiosity at Dingo Gap

This mosaic of images from the Navigation Camera (Navcam) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity shows the terrain to the west from the rover's position on the 528th Martian day, or sol, of the mission (Jan. 30, 2014). [Read the Full Story Here]

Mast Camera and Its Calibration Target on Curiosity Rover

This set of images illustrates the twin cameras of the Mast Camera (Mastcam) instrument on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover (upper left), the Mastcam calibration target (lower center), and the locations of the cameras and target on the rover. Image released March 18, 2013.

Close-up of Martian 'Door Handle' Rock

A close-up of a shiny, wind-sculpted rock photographed by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity on Jan. 30, 2013. Read the full story.

Ventifacted Surface of Mars

Ventifacted (wind-eroded) Martian surface is caused by fine particles of dust and sand impacting the surface over time. Read the full story.

Mars Rover Curiosity Portrait: John Klein Site

This self-portrait of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity combines dozens of images taken by the rover's Mars Hand Lens Imager on Feb. 3, 2013. The portrait was taken at the rock target "John Klein," where the rover collected the first ever bedrock sample of Mars using its drill on Feb. 8.

Mars Rover Curiosity's 1st Drill Sample Hole

At the center of this image from NASA's Curiosity rover is the hole in a rock called "John Klein" where the rover conducted its first sample drilling on Mars. The drilling took place on Feb. 8, 2013.

Mars Rover Curiosity's 1st Drill Sample Site (Annotated)

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity used its Mast Camera (Mastcam) to take the images combined into this mosaic of the drill area, called "John Klein." The label "Drill" indicates where the rover ultimately performed its first sample drilling on Feb. 8, 2013.

Curiosity Rovers 1st Mars Sample Drill Site (Raw Color)

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity used its Mast Camera (Mastcam) to take the images combined into this mosaic of the drill area, called "John Klein." The rover conducted its first sample drilling on Feb. 8, 2013.

Close-Up After Preparatory Test of Drilling on Mars

After an activity called the "mini drill test" by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity, the rover's Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera recorded this close-up view of the results during the 180th Martian day, or sol, of the rover's work on Mars (Feb. 6, 2013). [Full Story]

Preparatory Drill Test Performed on Mars

In an activity called the "mini drill test," NASA's Mars rover Curiosity used its drill to generate this ring of powdered rock for inspection in advance of the rover's first full drilling (Feb. 6, 2013). Image released Feb. 7, 2013. [Full Story]

First Night Image of MAHLI Calibration Target Under Ultraviolet Lights

This image of a calibration target illuminated by ultraviolet LEDs (light emitting diodes) is part of the first set of nighttime images taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera at the end of the robotic arm of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity. Image released Jan. 24, 2013.

Curiosity's Drill in Place for Load Testing Before Drilling

The percussion drill in the turret of tools at the end of the robotic arm of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has been positioned in contact with the rock surface in this image from the rover's front Hazard-Avoidance Camera (Hazcam). The drill was positioned for pre-load testing, and the Hazcam recorded this image during the 170th Martian day, or sol, of Curiosity's work on Mars (Jan. 27, 2013).

MAHLI's First Night Imaging of Martian Rock, White Lighting

This image of a Martian rock illuminated by white-light LEDs (light emitting diodes) is part of the first set of nighttime images taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera at the end of the robotic arm of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity. MAHLI took the images on Jan. 22, 2013 (PST).

MAHLI's First Night Imaging of Martian Rock Under Ultraviolet Lighting

This image of a Martian rock illuminated by ultraviolet LEDs (light emitting diodes) is part of the first set of nighttime images taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera at the end of the robotic arm of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity. MAHLI took the images on Jan. 22, 2013 (PST).

First Night Image of MAHLI Calibration Target in White Lighting

This image of a calibration target illuminated by white-light LEDs (light emitting diodes) is part of the first set of nighttime images taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera at the end of the robotic arm of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity. Image released Jan. 24, 2013.

Blast Zone Created by Curiosity Rover's Sky Crane

This image from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows the blast zone created by the Curiosity rover's "sky crane" descent stage as it appeared in August 2012, just after Curiosity touched down.

'John Klein' Site Selected for Curiosity's Drill Debut

This view shows the patch of veined, flat-lying rock selected as the first drilling site for NASA's Mars rover Curiosity. Image released Jan. 15, 2013.

Diversity in Vicinity of Curiosity's First Drilling Target

The right Mast Camera (Mastcam) of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover provided this contextual view of the vicinity of the location called "John Klein," selected as Curiosity's first drilling site. Image released Jan. 15, 2013.

Windblown Sand from the 'Rocknest' Drift

The Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity acquired close-up views of sands in the "Rocknest" wind drift to document the nature of the material that the rover scooped, sieved and delivered to the Chemistry and Mineralogy Experiment (CheMin) and the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) in October and November 2012. The picture on the left shows some of the variety of coarse sand grains observed on a portion of the Rocknest wind drift. The picture on the right shows a magnified view of the fraction of smaller sand grains examined by Curiosity. Image released Dec. 3, 2012.

Veins in 'Sheepbed' Outcrop

This image of an outcrop at the "Sheepbed" locality, taken by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover with its right Mast Camera (Mastcam), shows show well-defined veins filled with whitish minerals, interpreted as calcium sulfate. Image released Jan. 15, 2013.

Veins in Rocks on Mars and Earth

This set of images shows the similarity of sulfate-rich veins seen on Mars by NASA's Curiosity rover to sulfate-rich veins seen on Earth. Image released Jan. 15, 2013.

Curiosity Rover Uses Brush on Mars

This image from the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity shows the patch of rock cleaned by the first use of the rover's Dust Removal Tool (DRT). The rover brushed the rock clean on Jan. 6, 2013. [Full Story]

Martian Rock Brushed Clean: Curiosity Close-Up

This image from the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity shows details of rock texture and color in an area where the rover's Dust Removal Tool (DRT) brushed away dust that was on the rock. Image taken on Jan. 6, 2013. [Full Story]

Snake River Rock on Mars by Curiosity

The sinuous rock feature in the lower center of this mosaic of images recorded by the NASA Mars rover Curiosity is called "Snake River." Image taken Dec. 20, 2012.

Mars 'Flower' Photo by Curiosity Rover (Wide)

This image shows the full photo from Mars rover Curiosity of a strange transparent feature on a rock, which some have nicknamed a "flower." It appears at lower left. Image taken Dec. 19, 2012. Read the Full Story

Curiosity's 'Rocknest' Workplace

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover documented itself in the context of its work site, an area called "Rocknest Wind Drift," on the 84th Martian day, or sol, of its mission (Oct. 31, 2012). Image released Dec. 3, 2012.

Mars 'Flower' Photo by Curiosity Rover

This photo from the Mars rover Curiosity is a close-up of a transparent rock feature that some have dubbed a "flower." A NASA spokesman has said it appears to be part of the rock. Image taken Dec. 19, 2012. Read the Full Story

Mars Rover Portrait: Stunt Double

This self-portrait of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity shows the rover's stunt double on Earth at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. Scientists used the test rover to check photo instructions for Curiosity's full self-portrait on Mars. Image released Dec. 11, 2012.

Mars 'Flower' Photo by Curiosity Rover

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems

Mars Rover Portrait: Stunt Double

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS