Mars Curiosity Dark Bands
September 25, 2012
This mosaic from the Mast Camera on NASA's Curiosity rover shows a close-up view looking toward the "Glenelg" area, where three different terrain types come together. All three types are observed from orbit with the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. By driving there, Curiosity will be able to explore them.
One of these terrain types is light-toned with well-developed layering, which likely records the deposition of sedimentary materials. There are also black bands that run through the area and might constitute additional layers that alternate with the light-toned layer(s). The black bands are not easily seen from orbit and are on the order of about 3.3-feet (1-meter) thick. Both of these layer types are important science targets.
This mosaic is composed of images taken with the Mastcam 100-millimeter camera.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Topics:
Environment, Space technology, Spaceflight, Spacecraft, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Water on Mars, Mars Science Laboratory, HiRISE, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars exploration, Malin Space Science Systems, Opportunity rover, Mars Exploration Rover, Astrobiology
