NASA's Curiosity rover captures 360-degree panorama of Mars

[Buster's Uncle]

NASA's Curiosity rover captures 360-degree panorama of Mars
Mary Bowerman, USA TODAY Network 8:24 a.m. EDT August 22, 2016



This image provided by NASA shows shows a Martian rock outcrop near the landing site of the rover Curiosity thought to be the site of an ancient streambed. Curiosity landed in a crater near Mars' equator on Aug. 5, 2012.  (Photo: AP)


Where are we again?

New 360-degree images of Mars captured by NASA's Curiosity rover look more like the Southwestern U.S. than the surface of another planet.

The images captured on Aug. 5, 2016, show eroded mesas and buttes, which are capped with rock that is resistant to wind erosion, according to a statement from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

NASA's Curiosity rover tweeted a GIF of the view on Friday. "Join me on #Mars amid Murray Buttes," the rover said on Twitter.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUweNrpFTwA&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUweNrpFTwA&amp;feature=youtu.be</a>

The Curiosity rover landed on the red planet four years ago and is currently examining younger layers of the planet’s surface as it climbs Mount Sharp, according to NASA.

“A key goal is to learn how freshwater lake conditions, which would have been favorable for microbes billions of years ago if Mars has ever had life, evolved into harsher, arid conditions much less suited to supporting life,” NASA said in a statement.

You can also view the 360-degree panorama on YouTube.


http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/08/22/nasas-curiosity-rover-captures-360-degree-panorama-mars-looks-like-south-west/89092206/