Latest news with #Mastcam
NDTV
17 hours ago
- Science
- NDTV
Curiosity Examines Spiderweb-Like Boxwork Pattern On Mars. Here's Why It's Significant
NASA's Curiosity rover, which is currently roaming Mars looking for signs of life, recently captured an intriguing picture, showcasing a fascinating boxwork pattern. The photo was taken by the rover's Mast Camera (or Mastcam) on May 16, 2025. "NASA's Curiosity Mars rover captured this 360-degree view after arriving at a region crisscrossed by hardened low ridges called boxwork patterns," NASA said in a blog post published on June 23. Boxwork patterns on Mars are fascinating geological formations that resemble spiderwebs or honeycombs. Scientists were captivated by these patterns even before Curiosity's 2012 landing on the Red Planet. Scientists believe that these structures are composed of hardened, low ridges of minerals that have been left behind after groundwater erosion billions of years ago. NASA said that the minerals left behind by the water hardened like cement within the rock, which was carved away after abrasive blasting by wind. The process revealed networks of resistant ridges within. The Curiosity rover has been studying these formations in the Gale Crater, which is believed to have once hosted lakes and water activity. "Since 2014, Curiosity has been exploring the foothills of Mount Sharp, a 3-mile-tall (5-kilometre-tall) mountain within the crater," the post added. Here's why this pattern is important Curiosity has been learning about the Red Planet's unique environment, and the boxwork patterns suggest that groundwater played a significant role in shaping the planet's surface. These formations could hold clues to Mars' past habitability and potential for supporting life. Scientists believe that the minerals forming the Martian boxwork likely crystallised under conditions similar to those on Earth that supported early microbial life.
Economic Times
05-05-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
NASA's clearest picture of Mars doesn't just look like home, it might be our next one
A stunning 360-degree panorama captured by NASA's Curiosity rover in 2015 showcases the Namib Dune and Mount Sharp on Mars. The clarity of the image has sparked comparisons to blurry home security footage, highlighting the rover's advanced technology. This detailed view provides valuable insights into Mars' past atmosphere and geological evolution, fueling dreams of future human habitation. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Popular in International Pictures that were taken nearly a decade ago have resurfaced and captured the attention of space enthusiasts and scientists. NASA 's Curiosity rover shared a 360-degree panorama of Mars , originally taken in December 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 are comparing the picture with the footage of their blurry home security cameras due to its clarity and sharpness."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 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 sensesCuriosity, 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 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.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
NASA's clearest picture of Mars doesn't just look like home, it might be our next one
Pictures that were taken nearly a decade ago have resurfaced and captured the attention of space enthusiasts and scientists. 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.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Curiosity rover spots rare shimmering clouds above Mars
The Sun sets differently on Mars. Part of that is due to its distance from the star (an average of 142 million miles versus Earth's roughly 93 million miles), but it also has to do with the planet's atmosphere. A great example of the effects can be seen in the Red Planet's noctilucent clouds. Latin for 'night shining,' noctilucent clouds (also known as twilight clouds) are responsible for Earth's vibrant red, orange, and purple dawn and dusk skies. If the conditions are just right, they sometimes even take on an iridescent, 'mother-of-pearl' quality. And last month, NASA's Curiosity rover captured both noctilucent and shimmering cloud formations during a Martian sunset. Recorded by Curiosity's Mastcam over 16 minutes on January 17, the brief glimpse also offers an example of how the planet's atmosphere vastly differs from Earth's. Martian clouds are sometimes made of water-based ice, but because the atmosphere is over 95 percent carbon dioxide, CO2 ice can also form at both higher and lower altitudes. These latter clouds are what can take on an iridescent sheen—in the case of last month's recording, they formed between an altitude of 37-50 miles above the surface, and can be seen at the top of the images while water-ice clouds cross the sky beneath them in the opposite direction. These twilight clouds aren't just a rare sight—they may be only capable of forming above specific regions of Mars. Both the Curiosity and Pathfinder rovers (respectively located above and below equator) have documented the atmospheric events. Perseverance, however, is located further into the northern hemisphere, and has not recorded any noctilucent clouds. According to Mark Lemmon, an atmospheric scientist at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado, gravitational waves may be to blame. 'Carbon dioxide was not expected to be condensing into ice here, so something is cooling it to the point that it could happen,' he said in a January 11 statement from NASA. 'But Martian gravity waves are not fully understood and we're not entirely sure what is causing twilight clouds to form in one place but not another.'
