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After landing on the mysterious red planet Mars safely on Aug. 5, NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity has been sending images of Mars from there to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) continuously. For the first time, Curiosity has snapped hi-resolution self-portrait on Mars surface on Aug. 7 and has sent it to JPL. NASA released the image during a press conference on Friday, August 17. Want to see the hi-resolution self-portrait of Curiosity?

Using 34 millimeter Mast Camera, Curiosity snapped the high-resolution self-portrait for the first time on August 7 PDT at night (early morning Aug. 8 EDT). The released image is composed of 20 full-frame navcam shots. The back of the rover can be seen at the top left of the image, and two of the rover’s right side wheels can be seen on the left. The “augmented reality” or AR tag seen on the rover deck, in the middle of the image. The undulating rim of Gale Crater forms the lighter color strip in the background. Bits of gravel, about 0.4 inches (1 centimeter) in size, are visible on the deck of the rover.

This resolution of the image consists of 1,024 x 1,024 pixels. Curiosity will take more images of Mars and its Surface, rocks and others. The rover will stay there two years or more to study the rocks and soil in the 96 mile wide (155 kilometers) crater with its 10 different science instruments. It will help the scientists of JPL to determine if the Gale Crater area is, or ever was, capable of supporting microbial life.

The JPL team members have said that they are possibly going to take Curiosity on its first short drive most probably on August 20 or 21 (Monday or Tuesday).

Source : Space
Special Thanks To : JPL, NASA

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