NASA / JPL / Malin Space Science Systems. Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity.

Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity.

Imaged: Sunday 15th December 2024. Sol 4,393.

These just arrived on Earth. 

Not only is Mars Perseverance Rover over in Jezero Crater about 3,730 KM / 2,318 miles away delivering historic, unique views of a very rare feature (ancient river delta) on Mars, MSL Curiosity continues to do likewise whilst climbing a very large mountain on Mars within Gale Crater. 

Some fantastic new views, not to be out done by Perseverance in Jezero Crater also returning some fantastic new views. Both incredible rovers look as though they are operating from new sites almost as if they are newly arrived spacecraft. 

Colour close up and very close up images of a very small area from the MAHLI MArs Hand Lens Imager. Tiny dust grains narrower than a hair are clearly visible and the very closest areas about the size of a postage stamp or about 0.5 cm across. The circular brushed area is 5 CM wide.

On Tuesday 12th November 2024, it was the Mars Equinox, Southern Autumn, Northern Spring. The day & night was equal over the whole of Mars with the Sun rising at the north pole and setting at the south pole on Mars, just as on Earth at the equinoxes. The Sun appeared in front of the constellation of Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer, and this point from Mars will be known as the First Point of Ophiuchus. 

The Left Wide Angle camera views are about 6.5 degrees wide and 15 degrees tall owing to stuck the filter wheel obscuring about half of the frame. However still incredible images. These frames contain colour information, but do not have the software to convert..

The northern rim of Gale Crater visible about 40 KM / 25 miles away. Some terrain looking down and also the highest parts of Aeolis Mons visible. A mountain 87 KM / 54 miles outside of Gale Crater is visible as is more terrain outside the rim coming into view. More terrain to the north of Gale Crater is becoming visible as MSL Curiosity climbs higher.

 

The sulphate bearing layers that MSL Curiosity is now driving up are about 400 metres thick. MSL Curiosity has climbed approximately 800 metres / 2,625 feet up the mountain. 

The rotation period of Mars is 24 hours, 37 minutes &  22 seconds as against 23 hours, 56 minutes & 4 seconds for the Earth. So the length of day on both planets are very similar, with Mars's about 3% longer than Earth's.

MSL Curiosity is climbing the 5,500 metre / 18,044 foot tall Aeolis Mons aka Mt Sharp, in turn inside the 4,850 metre / 15,900 foot deep and 154 KM / 96 mile wide Gale Crater, within the Aeolis Quadrangle on Mars.

Has left the Geddes Vallis on Aeolis Mons. 

Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity continues to operate flawlessly. 

It had been announced back in April 2022 that MSL Curiosity's mission has been extended for at least a further three years from October 2022 to climb right up to the upper part of Aeolis Mons. 

There is still plenty of power being produced by the MMRTG (Multi Mission Radioisotopic Thermoelectric Generator, uses the natural decay of Plutonium 238 to convert heat to electricity). 

The instruments are still in full working order, although the left, wider angle MastCam camera is partially obscured by the filter wheel which no longer turns. The damage to the wheels has not continued at a quick rate and is somewhat less serious than previously feared, it is more cosmetic rather than actually damaging to motability.

Gale Crater, Aeolis Quadrangle.

Text: Andrew R Brown.

NASA / JPL / Malin Space Science Systems. Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity.