NASA's clearest picture of Mars doesn't just look like home, it might be our next one
NASA
's Curiosity rover shared a 360-degree panorama of
Mars
, originally taken in December 2015.
#Pahalgam Terrorist Attack
Inside Operation Tupac: Pakistan's secret project to burn Kashmir
Who is Asim Munir, the Zia-style general shaping Pakistan's faith-driven military revival
'Looking for partners, not preachers': India's strong message for EU amid LoC tensions
The picture shows the towering Namib Dune in the Bagnold Dune Field and the base of Mount Sharp. The Namib Dune is situated along the northwestern flank of Mount Sharp and is part of a larger dark-sand region known for its active movement.
People are comparing the picture with the footage of their blurry home security cameras due to its clarity and sharpness.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Direct Shopping From Adidas Francchise Store, 60% Discount
Original Adidas
Shop Now
Undo
"NASA can take this photo from Mars, but I can't get a clear image of my driveway at night?" one Reddit user joked. Another posted, "Meanwhile, my monitor looks like it's broadcasting from the moon."
It was taken by Curiosity's Mastcam on its 1,197th Martian day (or "sol") and shows a steep dune just 23 feet from the rover. The face of the dune rises about 16 feet, with a steep slope.
Live Events
The Mastcam, developed by Malin Space Science Systems, captured high-resolution color images that were later adjusted for white balance to approximate how the scene would appear under Earth's sunlit sky. The image was color corrected to match the Earth's lighting, making it more relatable and revealing a version of Mars that we can comprehend, and one that speaks to our senses
Curiosity, managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has been exploring Gale Crater since 2012. This particular image marked the first close-up study of active dunes on any planet other than Earth. These dunes aren't just static relics; they move. NASA's data show they shift about three feet each Earth year.
The dunes reveal secrets about Mars' past atmosphere, climate, and geological evolution. But for the rest of us, the emotional response may be even more powerful.
'It just makes you feel small — and proud,' one user wrote on Reddit. 'Like we're out there. Like humans made it.'
But every so often, an old image, from a lonely rover 140 million miles away, reminds us that one day, we might just call Mars home.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
"People around the world excited about Gaganyaan mission," says Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla during meeting with PM Modi
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla , who returned to Earth in July after completing NASA's Axiom-4 space mission. During the meeting, Shukla shared that people around the world are excited about India's Gaganyaan mission He added that his crew members were so enthusiastic that they made him promise to invite them to the Gaganyaan the interaction, PM Modi asked, "As the first Indian to reach there, what are your thoughts? And what kind of questions do people ask ?"Shubhanshu Shukla said, "Wherever I went, whoever I met, everyone was very happy to meet me, very excited. The biggest thing was that everyone knew about what India is doing in the field of space. Everyone knew about this, and many people were more excited about Gaganyaan. They would come and ask me, 'When is your mission going?' And my crew members made me sign that whenever Gaganyaan is gone, you will invite us to the launch."PM Modi then asked, "What change do you feel after such a long journey in space, and now coming back?""The environment up there is very different. Once we reach space, we can remove our seat belts and move around inside the capsule. The heart rate slows down, but the body starts adjusting in 3-4 days. But when we return to Earth, the body takes time to readjust. Even though I was healthy, I couldn't walk properly. People had to hold me for support."PM Modi asked Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla about the use of moong and methi (fenugreek).Shukla explained that food is a big challenge on space missions because space is limited and cargo is expensive. He said moong and methi are easy to grow with little water and sprout in just 8 days."Food is a big challenge on a space station; there is less space, and cargo is expensive. You always try to pack as many calories and nutrients as possible in the least space, and experiments are going on in every way. They are very easy to grow and need very few resources, just a little water, and they sprout in only 8 days. These are some of the secrets of our country.""They used to call you tag genius. What's the reason behind that?" PM Modi askedShukla said, "...When I joined the Air Force, I thought that I would not have to study, but I will have to study a lot after that. And after becoming a test pilot, it becomes a discipline of engineering. So I think we were well prepared, when we reached for this mission has been successful, we have returned, but this mission is not the end, it is the beginning..."PM Modi then said that the biggest work would be to have a very large pool of astronauts, 40-50 people in shared that when he was young, becoming an astronaut seemed impossible because there were no programs. But now, children are asking him how they can become astronauts, showing that the dream is alive."When I was young, Rakesh Sharma sir went for the first time in 1984, but the dream of becoming an astronaut never came to my mind because we did not have any program. But when I went to the station this time, I spoke to the children three times. In every program, the children asked how can I become an astronaut? So I think this in itself is a big success for our country. In today's India, they know that it is possible. We have the option and we can become. And like you said, it is my responsibility, I feel I got a lot of opportunities to represent my country and now it is my responsibility to take as many people as possible to this level," Shukla said .PM Modi then said, "Space station and Gaganyaan. These are our big missions. Your experience will be very useful in that."Shukla then praised the government's strong commitment to the space program, despite setbacks like Chandrayaan 2, and said India has the capability to become a global leader in space."I think somewhere there is a very big opportunity for us, especially because the kind of commitment our government has made to sustain the space program, budget every year, inspite of failures like Chandrayaan 2. Even after that, we said no, we will move ahead. Chandrayaan 3 was successful. Even after such failures, if we are getting so much support and the whole world is seeing this. We have the capability, so we can acquire a leadership role here. You talked about Atmanirbharta in space manufacturing... So all these things are connected in the same way," Shukla said"If we do it self-reliantly, we will do well," said PM ModiShukla, who returned to Earth on July 15 after completing NASA's Axiom-4 (AX-4) space mission, landed in the national capital in the early hours of was part of NASA's Axiom-4 Space Mission, which took off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US, on June 25. He returned to Earth on July 15, splashing down off the coast of California. He became the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
"People around the world excited about Gaganyaan mission," says Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla during meeting with PM Modi
Synopsis Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who returned to Earth in July after completing NASA's Axiom-4 space mission. During the meeting, Shukla shared that people around the world are excited about India's Gaganyaan mission. ANI "People around the world excited about Gaganyaan mission," says Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla during meeting with PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who returned to Earth in July after completing NASA's Axiom-4 space mission. During the meeting, Shukla shared that people around the world are excited about India's Gaganyaan added that his crew members were so enthusiastic that they made him promise to invite them to the Gaganyaan the interaction, PM Modi asked, "As the first Indian to reach there, what are your thoughts? And what kind of questions do people ask ?"Shubhanshu Shukla said, "Wherever I went, whoever I met, everyone was very happy to meet me, very excited. The biggest thing was that everyone knew about what India is doing in the field of space. Everyone knew about this, and many people were more excited about Gaganyaan. They would come and ask me, 'When is your mission going?' And my crew members made me sign that whenever Gaganyaan is gone, you will invite us to the launch."PM Modi then asked, "What change do you feel after such a long journey in space, and now coming back?" "The environment up there is very different. Once we reach space, we can remove our seat belts and move around inside the capsule. The heart rate slows down, but the body starts adjusting in 3-4 days. But when we return to Earth, the body takes time to readjust. Even though I was healthy, I couldn't walk properly. People had to hold me for support."PM Modi asked Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla about the use of moong and methi (fenugreek).Shukla explained that food is a big challenge on space missions because space is limited and cargo is expensive. He said moong and methi are easy to grow with little water and sprout in just 8 days. "Food is a big challenge on a space station; there is less space, and cargo is expensive. You always try to pack as many calories and nutrients as possible in the least space, and experiments are going on in every way. They are very easy to grow and need very few resources, just a little water, and they sprout in only 8 days. These are some of the secrets of our country.""They used to call you tag genius. What's the reason behind that?" PM Modi asked Shukla said, "...When I joined the Air Force, I thought that I would not have to study, but I will have to study a lot after that. And after becoming a test pilot, it becomes a discipline of engineering. So I think we were well prepared, when we reached for this mission has been successful, we have returned, but this mission is not the end, it is the beginning..."PM Modi then said that the biggest work would be to have a very large pool of astronauts, 40-50 people in India. Shukla shared that when he was young, becoming an astronaut seemed impossible because there were no programs. But now, children are asking him how they can become astronauts, showing that the dream is alive. "When I was young, Rakesh Sharma sir went for the first time in 1984, but the dream of becoming an astronaut never came to my mind because we did not have any program. But when I went to the station this time, I spoke to the children three times. In every program, the children asked how can I become an astronaut? So I think this in itself is a big success for our country. In today's India, they know that it is possible. We have the option and we can become. And like you said, it is my responsibility, I feel I got a lot of opportunities to represent my country and now it is my responsibility to take as many people as possible to this level," Shukla said .PM Modi then said, "Space station and Gaganyaan. These are our big missions. Your experience will be very useful in that."Shukla then praised the government's strong commitment to the space program, despite setbacks like Chandrayaan 2, and said India has the capability to become a global leader in space."I think somewhere there is a very big opportunity for us, especially because the kind of commitment our government has made to sustain the space program, budget every year, inspite of failures like Chandrayaan 2. Even after that, we said no, we will move ahead. Chandrayaan 3 was successful. Even after such failures, if we are getting so much support and the whole world is seeing this. We have the capability, so we can acquire a leadership role here. You talked about Atmanirbharta in space manufacturing... So all these things are connected in the same way," Shukla said "If we do it self-reliantly, we will do well," said PM ModiShukla, who returned to Earth on July 15 after completing NASA's Axiom-4 (AX-4) space mission, landed in the national capital in the early hours of was part of NASA's Axiom-4 Space Mission, which took off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US, on June 25. He returned to Earth on July 15, splashing down off the coast of California. He became the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
How 'India's secrets' helped Shubhanshu Shukla in space: Astronaut shares experience with PM Modi
PM Modi met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI) NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who returned to Earth in July after completing NASA's Axiom-4 mission, becoming the first Indian in four decades to travel to space. During their interaction, Shukla shared that people around the world are following India's upcoming Gaganyaan mission with great enthusiasm. 'Wherever I went, whoever I met, everyone was very happy to meet me, very excited. The biggest thing was that everyone knew about what India is doing in the field of space. Everyone knew about this, and many people were more excited about Gaganyaan. They would come and ask me, 'When is your mission going?' And my crew members made me sign that whenever Gaganyaan is gone, you will invite us to the launch,' he said. PM Modi asked him, 'As the first Indian to reach there, what are your thoughts? And what kind of questions do people ask?' Shukla replied that the interest was overwhelming and reflected India's growing stature in space exploration. The prime minister also inquired about the physical changes after such a long journey in space. Shukla explained, 'The environment up there is very different. Once we reach space, we can remove our seat belts and move around inside the capsule. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like When the Camera Clicked at the Worst Possible Time Read More Undo The heart rate slows down, but the body starts adjusting in 3-4 days. But when we return to Earth, the body takes time to readjust. Even though I was healthy, I couldn't walk properly. People had to hold me for support.' When asked about experiments with moong and methi (fenugreek), Shukla described the challenge of food in space. 'Food is a big challenge on a space station; there is less space, and cargo is expensive. You always try to pack as many calories and nutrients as possible in the least space, and experiments are going on in every way. They are very easy to grow and need very few resources, just a little water, and they sprout in only 8 days. These are some of the secrets of our country.' PM Modi recalled that Shukla was once called a 'tag genius' and asked him the reason behind it. Shukla responded, '…When I joined the Air Force, I thought that I would not have to study, but I will have to study a lot after that. And after becoming a test pilot, it becomes a discipline of engineering. So I think we were well prepared, when we reached for this mission has been successful, we have returned, but this mission is not the end, it is the beginning. ..' The prime minister stressed the need for India to have a pool of 40-50 astronauts. Shukla, reflecting on his own journey, said children today are far more hopeful about becoming astronauts than his generation was. 'When I was young, Rakesh Sharma sir went for the first time in 1984, but the dream of becoming an astronaut never came to my mind because we did not have any program. But when I went to the station this time, I spoke to the children three times. In every program, the children asked how can I become an astronaut? So I think this in itself is a big success for our country. In today's India, they know that it is possible. We have the option and we can become. And like you said, it is my responsibility, I feel I got a lot of opportunities to represent my country and now it is my responsibility to take as many people as possible to this level.' PM Modi added, 'Space station and Gaganyaan. These are our big missions. Your experience will be very useful in that.' Shukla praised the government's commitment to space research, even in the face of setbacks. 'I think somewhere there is a very big opportunity for us, especially because the kind of commitment our government has made to sustain the space program, budget every year, inspite of failures like Chandrayaan 2. Even after that, we said no, we will move ahead. Chandrayaan 3 was successful. Even after such failures, if we are getting so much support and the whole world is seeing this. We have the capability, so we can acquire a leadership role here. You talked about Atmanirbharta in space manufacturing... So all these things are connected in the same way.' To this, PM Modi said, 'If we do it self-reliantly, we will do well.' Shukla returned to Earth on July 15 after a three-week stay aboard the International Space Station during NASA's Axiom-4 mission, which launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25. He splashed down off the coast of California and arrived in New Delhi on Sunday. His mission made him the first Indian since Rakesh Sharma in 1984 to travel to space. WATCH FULL VIDEO
