NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover has transmitted back to Earth two panoramic photos of the Martian sky.

The composite image is a combination of two pictures taken at different times of the day, seamlessly stitched together.

While the original panorama shots were captured in black and white, NASA applied an “artistic interpretation” to add color, the Washington Examiner has reported.

The choice of two distinct times of day was intentional, allowing for diverse perspectives of the Martian landscape.

Doug Ellison, an engineer involved in planning and processing the image, likened it to the shifting scenery experienced by visitors to national parks.

He explained that capturing both morning and afternoon lighting conditions creates contrasting shadows, simulating the effect of stage lighting, with the Sun serving as the sole illumination source.

The rearview photo features the Gale crater, a focal point of the rover’s exploration efforts throughout its mission.

Positioned at the center of the image are the Bolivar and Deepdale hills, between which the rover has traversed during its journey.

Since its touchdown in 2012, the Curiosity rover has covered a distance of 18.67 miles on the Martian surface. Over the course of its mission, it has captured and transmitted back to Earth more than 1 million raw images.

Written by staff