Discover Mars
Curiosity
NASA's Curiosity rover, an emblem of Martian exploration, has spent a decade uncovering the Red Planet's secrets. Armed with advanced instruments, it's drilled into Martian rocks, studied ancient riverbeds, and analyzed the thin atmosphere. Curiosity continues to awe with panoramic views and groundbreaking discoveries, reaffirming humanity's pursuit of cosmic understanding and reshaping our knowledge of Mars.
Cameras
Mast Camera (MastCam)
The MastCam system provides multiple spectra and true-color imaging with two cameras. The cameras can take true-color images at 1600x1200 pixels and up to 10 frames per second hardware-compressed video at 720p (1280x20).
Types of photos to expect:
A general purpose camera, you can expect to see a lot of broader environmental images.
Chemistry and Camera complex (ChemCam)
ChemCam is a suite of two remote sensing instruments combined as one: a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and a Remote Micro Imager (RMI) telescope. The ChemCam instrument suite was developed by the French CESR laboratory and the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The flight model of the mast unit was delivered from the French CNES to Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Types of photos to expect:
Close up shots of mars regolith and other sites of geological interest
Navigation cameras (NavCams)
The rover has two pairs of black and white navigation cameras mounted on the mast to support ground navigation. The cameras have a 45° angle of view and use visible light to capture stereoscopic 3-D imagery.
Types of photos to expect:
Images of the immediate surrounds of the rover, and lots of the rover itself.
Hazard avoidance cameras (HazCams)
he rover has four pairs of black and white navigation cameras called hazcams, two pairs in the front and two pairs in the back. They are used for autonomous hazard avoidance during rover drives and for safe positioning of the robotic arm on rocks and soils.
Types of photos to expect:
Images of the immediate surrounds of the rover.
Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI)
MAHLI is a camera on the rover's robotic arm, and acquires microscopic images of rock and soil. MAHLI can take true-color images at 1600×1200 pixels with a resolution as high as 14.5 µm per pixel. MAHLI has an 18.3 to 21.3 mm (0.72 to 0.84 in) focal length and a 33.8–38.5° field of view.
Types of photos to expect:
Close up images.
Mars Descent Imager (MARDI)
MARDI is fixed to the lower front left corner of the body of Curiosity. During the descent to the Martian surface, MARDI took color images at 1600×1200 pixels with a 1.3-millisecond exposure time starting at distances of about 3.7 km (2.3 mi) to near 5 m (16 ft) from the ground, at a rate of four frames per second for about two minutes.[
Types of photos to expect:
Views from above the surface during descent of the rover, entering of the atmosphere.
