NASA’s HiRISE Spies Curiosity on Mars
Published August 14, 2012
Color-enhanced view of NASA’s Curiosity rover on the surface of Mars taken by the HiRISE instrument on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The descent stage blast pattern around the rover is clearly seen as blue colors. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
Shown above is an image taken by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, using the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE). The image has been altered from “true” color in order to highlight the different types of materials on the martian surface. The image resolution is about one foot per pixel. Of particular interest are the (blue) regions where the MSL descent stage blasted away loose material on the surface, exposing different materials. Curiosity is seen in in the center of the blue region.
NASA intends to acquire a second image of this same view, but not at the 30 degree angle present in this image. Combining this image with an image looking straight down will make a stereo (3D) pair of images.
Source:NASA Images
