Thanks to the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the HiRISE camera, we have an orbital view of Dingo Gap, an opening between two low scarps which is spanned by a single dune. This gap and dune are visible both from the ground and from orbit. The Curiosity Mars rover has now crossed the gap and is continuing its travels toward enticing science destinations, including interesting veins and mineral fractures.
In the orbital image from HiRISE, the rover itself is not in this image as it was acquired before MSL landed. However, the imagery was likely used to help the rover team decide on the way to travel.
Below are more images of Dingo gap before and after the rover plowed its way through the sand.
Astrobiologists continue to work towards determining which biosignatures might be best to look for when…
Planetary nebula are some of nature's most stunning visual displays. The name is confusing since…
The venerable Hubble Space Telescope is like a gift that keeps on giving. Not only…
The venerable Voyager 1 spacecraft is finally phoning home again. This is much to the…
The search for extrasolar planets is currently undergoing a seismic shift. With the deployment of…
Astronauts on board the International Space Station are often visited by supply ships from Earth…