Mars Rover Landscapes

Panoramic views from various Mars rovers, capturing rocky terrains, operational scenes, and detailed landscapes, with a focus on exploration and scientific observation.

Rover, Airbags, & Surrounding Rocks

Rover, Airbags, & Surrounding Rocks

This synthetic image of NASA's Spirit Mars Exploration Rover in the 'Columbia Hills' was produced using 'Virtual Presence in Space' technology.

This scene from the panoramic camera (Pancam) on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows 'Spirit Mound' overlooking the floor of Endeavour Crater.

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover used its Mast Camera, or Mastcam, to take this 360-degree panorama of at the Avanavero drill site. The panorama is made up of 127 individual images taken on June 20, 2022, the 3,509th Martian day, or sol, of the mission, and stitched together back on Earth. The color has been adjusted to match the lighting conditions as the human eye would perceive them on Earth. At this location, Curiosity used the drill on its robotic arm to collect a rock sample for analysis by laboratory instruments inside the vehicle. It has collected more than three dozen such samples in its decade on the Red Planet. In the center of the panorama is a gap between two hills - nicknamed Paraitepuy Pass - that Curiosity is currently driving through; beyond it is a layered sulfate-bearing region, which represents a drier, saltier era in the history of Mount Sharp, the 3-mile-tall (5-kilometer-tall) mountain the rover has been ascending since 2014.

An attempted drive NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit on Feb. 15, 2005 did not gain any ground toward nearby 'Larry's Lookout' because of slippage that churned the soil on the slope. 3D glasses are necessary to view this image.

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This self-portrait of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity combines dozens of exposures to show gray-powder and two holes where Curiosity used its drill on the rock target 'John Klein.'

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity used its navigation camera to acquire this view looking toward the southwest. The scene includes tilted rocks at the edge of a bench surrounding 'Cape York,' with Burns formation rocks exposed in 'Botany Bay.'

Sojourner Within Color-Enhanced Panorama

Sojourner Rover Near Half

Spirit Hits a Home Run

An elongated crater called 'Spirit of St. Louis,' with a rock spire in it, dominates a recent scene from the panoramic camera (Pancam) on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity.

Front Windshield after Sol 61 Drive

The NASA Mars rover Curiosity used its left Navigation Camera to record this view of the step down into a shallow depression called 'Yellowknife Bay.' The descent into the basin crossed a step about 2 feet high, visible in the upper half of this image.

First Color Image of the Viking Lander 2 Site

Next Stop: 'Methuselah'

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit used its navigation camera to take the images assembled into this stereo, 120-degree view southward after a short drive on February 3, 2009. 3D glasses are necessary to view this image.

This image was captured while NASA's Perseverance rover drove on Mars for the first time on March 4, 2021. One of Perseverance's Hazard Avoidance Cameras (Hazcams) captured this image as the rover completed a short traverse and turn from its landing site in Jezero Crater. A key objective for Perseverance's mission on Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life. The rover will characterize the planet's geology and past climate, pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet, and be the first mission to collect and cache Martian rock and regolith (broken rock and dust). Subsequent NASA missions, in cooperation with ESA (European Space Agency), would send spacecraft to Mars to collect these sealed samples from the surface and return them to Earth for in-depth analysis. The Mars 2020 Perseverance mission is part of NASA's Moon to Mars exploration approach, which includes Artemis missions to the Moon that will help prepare for human exploration of th

This 360-degree panorama from the Navigation Camera (Navcam) on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows the surroundings of a site on lower Mount Sharp where the rover spent its 1,000th Martian day, or sol, on Mars.

Opportunity Rocks Again!

Mars scientists have several important hypotheses about how these minerals may reflect changes in the amount of water on the surface of Mars. The Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, will use its full suite of instruments to study these minerals.

This mosaic image from the panoramic camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit shows the area in front of the rover after its record 27.5 meters (90.2 feet) drive on Sol 43, which ended February 16, 2004. Spirit is looking toward one of its future targets, the rim of a crater nicknamed Bonneville. http //photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA05314

This full-resolution self-portrait shows the deck of NASA's Curiosity rover. The back of the rover can be at top left, two of the right side wheels at left, and the undulating rim of Gale Crater forms the lighter color strip in the background.

Sojourner's APXS studies Barnacle

Gibson' Panorama by Rover Spirit at 'Home Plate'

This full-resolution image shows part of the deck of NASA's Curiosity rover taken from one of the rover's Navigation cameras looking toward the back left of the rover. On the left, part of the rover's power supply is visible.

Martian rocks, true_colour image

NASA's Curiosity rover took this selfie on Oct. 11, 2019, the 2,553rd Martian day, or sol, of its mission. The rover drilled twice in this location, nicknamed Glen Etive (pronounced glen EH-tiv ). About 984 feet (300 meters) behind the rover, Vera Rubin Ridge rises up. Behind it lies the floor of Gale Crater, which Curiosity is exploring, and the northern rim of the crater. Just left of the rover are the two drill holes, called Glen Etive 1 (right) and Glen Etive 2 (left). Curiosity performed its first wet-chemistry experiment on a drilled sample at this location. The rover can analyze the chemical composition of rock samples by powderizing them with the drill, then dropping the samples into a portable lab in its belly called Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM). This panorama is made up of 57 individual images taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), a camera on the end of the rover's robotic arm. The images are stitched together into a panorama; the robotic arm isn't visible in the parts

Perseverance's Portrait of the Sample Depot. NASA's Perseverance Mars rover captured this portrait of its recently completed sample depot using its Mastcam-Z camera on Jan. 31, 2023, the 693rd Martian day, or sol, of the mission. This panorama is made up of 368 individual images that were stitched together after being sent back to Earth. The color in the scene has been adjusted to show the Martian surface as it would look to the human eye. Each sample tube is approximately 7 inches (18 centimeters) long and .8 inches (2 centimeters) in diameter. The Amalik sample closest to the rover was approximately 10 feet (3 meters) away from the camera at the time the image was taken. The Atsah and Skyland samples were approximately 66 feet (20 meters) away. Bearwallow, Coulettes, Montdenier, Crosswind Lake, and Roubion were approximately 115 to 164 feet (35 to 50 meters) away. Mageik and Malay were approximately 197 feet (60 meters) away. This is a natural-color view of the scene, showing the sur

Sojourner Moving Closer to Wedge

Evidence of Ancient Blisters in Rocks

First Look at Spirit at Landing Site

With the addition of four high-resolution Navigation Camera, or Navcam, images, taken on Aug. 18 (Sol 12), Curiosity's 360-degree landing-site panorama now includes the highest point on Mount Sharp visible from the rover.

. Curiosity Views Mud Cracks in the Clay-Sulfate Transition Region. NASA's Curiosity Mars rover found preserved, ancient mud cracks that scientists believe were formed after long cycles of wet and dry conditions over many years. The discovery marks the first evidence of these wet-dry cycles on Mars. The cracks were found while the rover explored a transitional region between an area enriched with clay minerals and one enriched with sulfate minerals. The mud cracks were captured in this mosaic by Curiosity's Mastcam on June 20, 2021, the 3,154th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. The mosaic is made up of 143 images that were stitched together after being sent back to Earth. The hexagonal shapes are similar to those found at locations on Earth such as Death Valley National Park's Racetrack playa. They form only after many years of alternating wet and dry conditions. When the mud cracks initially form, they have sharp, T-shaped angles within their pits. After being gently rehydrated man

NASA's Opportunity used newly developed and uploaded software called AEGIS, to analyze images to identify features that best matched criteria for selecting an observation target; the criteria in this image -- rocks that are larger and darker than others.

The rim of Gale Crater is visible in the distance, through the dusty haze, in this view of NASA's Curiosity rover of a sloping hillside on Mount Sharp.

Dust Devils Seen by Spirit

Panoramic photograph taken on Mars by the Viking 2 Astrobiology Field Laboratory, a spacecraft that was to conduct a robotic search for life on Mars. Dated 21st Century

A Well-Traveled 'Eagle Crater' (right-eye)

This self-portrait of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity comes courtesy of the Sun and the rover's front hazard-avoidance camera. The dramatic snapshot of Opportunity's shadow was taken as the rover continues to move farther into Endurance Crater

Spirit Captures Two Dust Devils On the Move

Rovers Exceed 50,000 Images

Phoenix Conductivity Probe

Farewell Glance at 'Endurance'

NASA's Mars Perseverance rover acquired this image using its onboard left Navigation Camera (Navcam). The camera is located high on the rover's mast and aids in driving. This image was acquired on March 7, 2021 (Sol 16) at the local mean solar time of 15 04 10.

Sojourner Doing a Wheelie on Wedge - Left Eye

'Endurance': A Daunting Challenge

The feature informally named 'Shoemaker Ridge' in the 'Cape York' segment of the western rim of Endeavour Crater includes outcrops that are likely impact breccias as seen by NASA's rover Opportunity.

Spirit's Surroundings on Sol 337

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity used a new technique, with added autonomy for the rover, in placement of the tool-bearing turret on its robotic arm. The technique is used to assess how close the instrument is to a soil or rock surface.

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter can be seen here with all four of its legs deployed before dropping from the belly of the Perseverance rover on March 30, 2021, the 39th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. This image was taken by the WATSON (Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering) camera on the SHERLOC (Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals) instrument, located at the end of the rover's long robotic arm. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory built and manages operations of Perseverance and Ingenuity for the agency. Caltech in Pasadena, California, manages JPL for NASA. WATSON was built by Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS) in San Diego and is operated jointly by MSSS and JPL. The Mars helicopter technology demonstration activity is supported by NASA's Science Mission Directorate, the NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, and the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate. A key objective for Perseverance's mission on

Example of Weathering And Sun Angle

The Mars Pathfinder Rover Sojourner images by the Imager for Mars Pathfinder as it nears the rock Wedge. Part of the Rock Garden is visible in the upper right of the image. http //photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA04318

View of 'Cape Verde' from 'Cape St. Mary' in Mid-Afternoon (False Color)

Martian Terrain, Unfurled Rover Ramps & Deflated Airbags

From a position in the shallow 'Yellowknife Bay' depression, NASA's Mars rover Curiosity used its right Mast Camera (Mastcam) to take the telephoto images combined into this panorama of geological diversity.

NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter swings down, with two of its four legs extended, from the belly of the Perseverance rover on March 28, 2021, the 37th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. This image was taken by the WATSON (Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering) camera on the SHERLOC (Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals) instrument, located at the end of the rover's long robotic arm. Animation available at

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity used the wire brush of its rock abrasion tool to scour dust from a circular target area on a rock called 'Marquette Island.'

Curiosity's Navcams View Paraitepuy Pass. NASA's Curiosity Mars rover used its navigation cameras, or Navcams, to capture this panorama of the narrow Paraitepuy Pass on Aug. 11, 2022, the 3,560th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. The pass, with hills in the distance, can be seen on the left side of the scene. The hill in the center of this scene is Bolívar ; Deepdale is on the far left of the scene. The crater floor is visible in the background of the right side of the panorama.

The straight lines in Curiosity's zigzag track marks are Morse code for JPL.

Northeast View in 360-degree Panorama

Titan's Ethane Lake

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover used one of its navigation cameras to take this image of flat terrain in Jezero Crater. This is one possible site that NASA may consider for a Mars Sample Return lander that would collect Perseverance's samples of Mars rock and sediment in the future. The lander would serve as the launch platform for a Mars Ascent Vehicle that would blast off from Mars, delivering the samples to an orbiter as part of their journey to Earth for intensive study. Choosing an area that lacks large rocks (especially those over 7 1/2 inches, or 19 centimeters, in diameter), sand dunes, and steeply angled terrain would go a long way toward easing the path for an MSR recovery vehicle to efficiently grab tubes before heading to the lander. A key objective for Perseverance's mission on Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life. The rover will characterize the planet's geology and past climate, pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet

ASI/MET Mast

Airbag Trail Dubbed Magic

This view from NASA's Curiosity rover of the downwind face of 'Namib Dune' on Mars covers 360 degrees, including a portion of Mount Sharp on the horizon. The site is part of the dark-sand 'Bagnold Dunes' field along the northwestern flank of Mount Sharp.

This full-resolution self-portrait shows the deck of NASA's Curiosity rover from the rover's Navigation camera.

Riding the Rim of 'Endurance' (right eye)

This view from NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows part of 'Marathon Valley,' a destination on the western rim of Endeavour Crater, as seen from an overlook north of the valley.

Flat

This image from NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows an example of a thin-laminated, evenly stratified rock type that occurs in the 'Pahrump Hills' outcrop at the base of Mount Sharp on Mars. This type of rock can form under a lake.

Mars' Apollo 1 Hills

Difficult Terrain for Opportunity

NASA's Curiosity rover found evidence for an ancient, flowing stream on Mars at a few sites, including a rock which the science team has named 'Hottah' after Hottah Lake in Canada's Northwest Territories.

NASA's Curiosity rover found evidence for an ancient, flowing stream on Mars at a few sites, including the rock outcrop pictured here, which the science team has named 'Hottah' after Hottah Lake in Canada's Northwest Territories.

Spirit's Shadow, Sol 153

One View, Two Craters (left eye)

Pits and Flutes on Stimpy

Little Movement in Spirit's Sol 2099 Drive

A Whale of a Panorama

. Perseverance Views Jezero Boulder Field. This composite image captured by NASA's Perseverance Mars rover shows boulders that decorate the top of the Jezero Crater fan deposit. Rover tracks across the middle of the image give a sense of scale. These boulders were transported by water that was either deeper or flowed faster than the ancient waterway that deposited the smaller pebbles that also populate the area. Because these boulders are sitting on top of the pebbles, scientists believe they arrived later, possibly much later. Perseverance's Mastcam-Z camera system took the series of images that make up this composite on July 6, 2023, the 845th day, or sol, of the rover's mission to Mars. Arizona State University leads the operations of the Mastcam-Z instrument, working in collaboration with Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego, on the design, fabrication, testing, and operation of the cameras, and in collaboration with the Niels Bohr Institute of the University of Copenhagen on t

This artist's concept depicts NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander

This stereo scene combines frames taken by the navigation camera on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit during the 1,866th Martian day, or sol, of Spirit's mission on Mars (April 3, 2009). You will need 3-D glasses to view this image.

Dust Wind Tails Around Rocks

This is the first image taken by the Navigation cameras on NASA's Curiosity rover. It shows the shadow of the rover's now-upright mast in the center, and the arm's shadow at left.

Spirit Shadow over Laguna Trench

This view from ASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows a swath of bedrock called 'Alexander Hills,' which the rover approached for close-up inspection of selected targets. It is a mosaic of six frames taken on Nov. 23, 2014.

'Clovis' in Color

This mosaic of images from the Navigation Camera (Navcam) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity shows the scene from the rover's position on the 376th Martian day, or sol, of the mission (Aug. 27, 2013).

Sojourner's APXS at Chimp - Left Eye

This from NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander's Stereo Surface Imager (SSI) camera shows Phoenix's parachute, backshell, heatshield, and impact site.

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity used its navigation camera to record this view of Santa Maria crater at the end of a drive, bringing it to the western edge of this crater.

NASA's Perseverance rover puts its robotic arm to work around a rocky outcrop called Skinner Ridge in Mars' Jezero Crater. Composed of multiple images, this mosaic shows layered sedimentary rocks in the face of a cliff in the delta, as well as one of the locations where the rover abraded a circular patch to analyze a rock's composition. The delta is an area where, billions of years ago, a river once flowed into a lake in Jezero Crater and deposited rocks and sediments in a fan shape. Scientists consider the delta one of the best places on Mars to search for potential signs of ancient microbial life. The verification of ancient life on the Red Planet carries an enormous burden of proof. The multiple images that compose this mosaic were acquired by Perseverance's Mastcam-Z instrument between June 30 and July 8, 2022 (PDT), the 484th and 492nd Martian days, or sols, of the rover's mission. The color bands of the image have been processed to improve visual contrast and accentuate color dif

A robotic rover explores an alien world with a large planet at horizon.

NASA's Curiosity rover samples a rock on the floor of Gale Crater.

NASA's Curiosity rover used its Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) to capture a set of 55 high-resolution images, which were stitched together to create a full-color self-portrait.

Spirit's View Beside 'Home Plate' on Sol 1823

Airbag and ASI/MET Instrument in 360-degree Panorama

The top of the butte in this scene from NASA's Curiosity Mars rover is known as 'M9a' in the 'Murray Buttes' area, where individual buttes and mesas were assigned numbers.

Close-up of a space travel vehicle on a landscape, Mars Rover

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