Tag Archives: Alexander Hills

Diverse environments seen in Curiosity samples

NASA scientists have found a wide diversity of minerals in the initial samples of rocks collected by the Curiosity rover in the lowermost layers of Mount Sharp on Mars, suggesting that conditions changed in the water environments on the planet … Continue reading

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New Curiosity selfie shows local targets, context

A sweeping view of the “Pahrump Hills” outcrop on Mars, where NASA’s Curiosity rover has been working for five months, surrounds the rover in Curiosity’s latest self-portrait. The selfie scene is assembled from dozens of images taken by the Mars … Continue reading

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Curiosity update: ‘Drive to Chinle’

Sols 826-827, December 1, 2014. The activities planned for the Thanksgiving holiday went well, and the data received so far look good, including MAHLI images showing the brushed target “Puente” [right].  So we are ready to move on, and the … Continue reading

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Curiosity: Working at Alexander Hills

Sol 824, November 30, 2014. The Hazcam shows the outcrop [right, contrast adjusted] as the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) studies the rock texture [below] using a stack of images taken at different focus settings.           … Continue reading

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Curiosity update: ‘Brushing dust at Alexander Hills’

Sol 823-825, November 26, 2014. “While everyone is recovering from their Thanksgiving meals, Curiosity will be feasting on some exciting science targets at the Alexander Hills! We are on our second pass at the Pahrump Hills, and on this pass … Continue reading

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Curiosity: MAHLI goes to work on Alexander Hills

Sol 819, November 25, 2014. After the DRT has brushed a target on Alexander Hills, the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) moves in for a close look (below; click on image for larger version). Note the granular texture and the … Continue reading

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Curiosity update: ‘Investigating Alexander Hills’

Sol 820-822, November 25, 2014, update from USGS Scientist Lauren Edgar: “Curiosity is currently investigating the Alexander Hills outcrop.  This Mastcam mosaic from Sol 817 [above] shows some of the interesting rock textures that we’ll study at this location. With Thanksgiving … Continue reading

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Curiosity update: ‘Leaving Book Cliffs’

Sol 816-818, November 21, 2014, update from USGS Scientist Lauren Edgar: “Over the weekend 3-sol plan, Curiosity will wrap up the investigation at Book Cliffs and drive toward Alexander Hills and Carnivore Canyon.  It’s been a great week at Book … Continue reading

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Curiosity finds an orbital hematite match

Reddish rock powder from the first hole drilled into a Martian mountain [Confidence Hills] by NASA’s Curiosity rover has yielded the mission’s first confirmation of a mineral mapped from orbit. “This connects us with the mineral identifications from orbit, which … Continue reading

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Curiosity update: ‘Approaching Alexander Hills’

Sol 789-791, October 24, 2014, update from USGS Scientist Lauren Edgar: “It was another fun day of operations as we planned Curiosity’s continued investigation of the Pahrump Hills… The drive on Sol 787 placed Curiosity approximately 18 m from the … Continue reading

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