December 29, 2023--The US space agency NASA has given humanity a unique insight into Martian life through the eyes of the veteran Curiosity rover. In a sequence of mesmerizing videos, the rover captured its own shadow as it drifted across the surface of the Red Planet over a 12-hour period, from dawn to dusk.
During the solar conjunction of Mars, a phenomenon that places the Sun between Earth and Mars, Curiosity performed an unusual task: recording images for 12 hours using its black-and-white navigation cameras, known as Hazcams. These videos, recorded on Nov. 8, offer a unique insight into the rover's dynamics when parked.
Rover controllers typically rely on Hazcams to avoid hazards while the rover is in motion, but this time they were used to explore the environment during the conjunction period. Despite revealing no notable weather events, the videos show the gradual change in Curiosity's silhouette as the day progresses.
The first video, available here, shows the shadow of the robotic arm and the front wheels emerging as dawn rises. NASA engineers use a calibration target to test the accuracy of the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer.
The second video, available here, captures the rear view of the rover as it observes the floor of Gale Crater. A black artifact, the result of a cosmic ray, and flashes caused by heat from the spacecraft's power system are evident in this video.
Although scientists found no significant weather events, these images provide valuable insight into Curiosity's daily life on Mars. With 11 years of Martian dust in the lenses, the images also highlight the environmental challenges faced by the probe.
In short, the Curiosity rover remains a tireless pioneer, giving Earth a unique window into the mysteries of the Red Planet.
During the solar conjunction of Mars, a phenomenon that places the Sun between Earth and Mars, Curiosity performed an unusual task: recording images for 12 hours using its black-and-white navigation cameras, known as Hazcams. These videos, recorded on Nov. 8, offer a unique insight into the rover's dynamics when parked.
Rover controllers typically rely on Hazcams to avoid hazards while the rover is in motion, but this time they were used to explore the environment during the conjunction period. Despite revealing no notable weather events, the videos show the gradual change in Curiosity's silhouette as the day progresses.
The first video, available here, shows the shadow of the robotic arm and the front wheels emerging as dawn rises. NASA engineers use a calibration target to test the accuracy of the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer.
The second video, available here, captures the rear view of the rover as it observes the floor of Gale Crater. A black artifact, the result of a cosmic ray, and flashes caused by heat from the spacecraft's power system are evident in this video.
Although scientists found no significant weather events, these images provide valuable insight into Curiosity's daily life on Mars. With 11 years of Martian dust in the lenses, the images also highlight the environmental challenges faced by the probe.
In short, the Curiosity rover remains a tireless pioneer, giving Earth a unique window into the mysteries of the Red Planet.
