For twelve years, we've watched Curiosity roam the rocky surface of Mars, deciphering the mysteries of the Red Planet and transmitting photos and data from the strange Martian environment.
The Mars rover, built by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), slowly climbed Mount Sharp in 2014. This mountain, officially named “Aeolis Mons,” was discovered in the 1970s. It is cut out from the alien landscape , full of boulders and has the Gediz Vallis channel, which some scientists believe was an ancient riverbed.
Curiosity passed through Gediz Vallis earlier this year, and, yesterday, JPL released an amazing gift for Mars lovers: a 360-degree panoramic view of the Gediz Vallis channel.
You can play with the YouTube video and move the screen of your mobile device for a great interactive experience. Or, if you're using a desktop computer, you can move the video around with a mouse.
The panorama shows features like Kukenan Butte and the Gale Crater Rim, with scientists debating whether water, wind or landslides shaped the one boulder-strewn terrain. Another interesting observation is the presence of mysterious sulfur stones with yellow crystals. Scientists are unsure of their origin, as such formations on Earth are associated with hot springs and volcanoes – none of which are known to exist on Mars.
Curiosity is now headed for a site called “the boxwork,” an area rich in minerals typically formed by ancient water flows.
