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NASA's Curiosity Rover Captures Rusty Martian Sand In Incredible Detail
It's well-known that Mars is a dry and sandy planet, and this new photo from NASA's Curiosity rover shows it off in jaw-dropping detail. Although Mars is often romanticized as a home for future humans, it's important to remember just how different it really is from Earth. Carbon dioxide dominates most of its atmosphere, the average surface temperature is around -80°F, and there's no natural way for humans to exist without extensive research/technology.
While scientists continue finding ways to safely get humans on the planet, advanced robotics are exploring Mars in the meantime. Between Curiosity, Perseverance, and Ingenuity, NASA's gathered heaps of information about the planet. The robots have collected Martian rock samples, hunted for signs of ancient life, and captured thousands of pictures to document their journies.
One of the latest Mars photos comes from Curiosity. Curiosity's been patrolling Mars since August 2012 and has been an invaluable tool to NASA since then. It captured the above picture with its Left Navigation Camera on October 18, 2021, at 23:50 UTC. The original photo was captured in black-and-white, though **** has turned it into a false-color image to better represent Mars' colors. The result is something genuinely stunning.
An Extremely Detailed Look At Mars' Gorgeous Sand
While sand isn't anything new for us on Earth, the sand on Mars looks considerably different than what we're used to. The sand in this photo has a dark, rusty appearance similar to the other rocks and dunes that make up the rest of the planet. The gorgeous color is also joined by detailed patterns throughout it. Thanks to wind and sandstorms that frequent Mars, sand on the planet often has intricate swirls and lines as shown above.
Images like this do an excellent job of showcasing the raw beauty Mars is so famous for. Rocks, sand, and wind are all simple elements on their own — and things prevalent on Earth. However, they come together in a unique way on Mars that's constantly fascinating. The planet may be barren and without life, but these photos prove that a desolate planet doesn't have to be ugly. In fact, it can be quite intriguing.
This is also far from the only photo of its kind. Other Mars pictures this year have showcased playful rock formations, imposing dunes, and haunting sunrises. Most humans today may never see these things for themselves, but NASA gets thousands of new images like this all the time. They make space exploration accessible for everyone, help scientists learn more about Mars, and are generally just a lot of fun. What's not to like?
