Sunday, December 22, 2013

Gale Crater Panorama (December 8, 2013)


NASA's Mars rover Curiosity captured this 360-degree view using its Navigation Camera (Navcam) after a 17-foot (5.3 meter) drive on 477th Martian day, or sol, of the rover's work on Mars (December 8, 2013).

This drive brought the mission's total driving distance to 3.86 miles (4.61 kilometers). The rock-studded terrain Curiosity has traversed since October 2013 appears to have accelerated the pace of wear and tear on the rover's wheels. Future drives may be charted to cross smoother ground where available.

This seam-corrected mosaic is presented in a cylindrical projection. The center of the scene faces south. North is as both ends.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Note: For more information, see PIA17751: Left-Front Wheel of Curiosity Rover, Approaching Three Miles, PIA17584: Rocky Mars Ground Where Curiosity Has Been Driving (Stereo), and Curiosity Team Upgrades Software, Checks Wheel Wear.

No comments: