More Curiosity Coverage
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Lasers, Cameras and Particle Detectors: Rover’s Super High-Tech Science GearThese are the first images taken by NASA's rover Curiosity after landing in Gale Crater on Mars, shot with the rover's Hazcam cameras. The image on the left shows one of the rover's wheels. When it first showed up on the screen in JPL's mission control, someone could be heard shouting "It's the wheel, it's the wheel!" The image on the right shows rocks, dust, and the rover's shadow on the surface of Mars.
The Hazcams -- the Hazard-Avoidance cameras -- are eight cameras placed in sets of two on the front and back of the rover that point at the ground and help the rover avoid large objects that it might run in to. They have a 1-megapixel resolution and shoot in black-and-white. Higher resolution and panoramic images as well as video will come from Curiosity's MastCam, which will be turned on and raised to its full height in coming days.
Shortly after these images were sent to Earth, the rover's signal was blocked by Gale Crater's central peak, known as Mt. Sharp. We'll bring you more images from Curiosity as they become available.
UPDATE: About two hours after sending its first images, Curiosity sent the higher-resolution shot below.
*UPDATE 2: Another great image from the rear Hazcams, where the rim of Gale crater can be seen in the distance clearly. The picture was taken with a wide-field "fisheye" lens but has been straightened to make the horizon appear flat. *
Images: JPL/NASA
