NASA’s Curiosity rover captures stunning Martian dawn
NASA's Curiosity rover captured high-resolution images of wind-sculpted geological formations called yardangs on Mars' Mount Sharp. These formations offer scientists clues about the planet's transition from a water-rich environment to its current arid state.
Why it matters
Advances our understanding of Martian geological history and the potential for past microbial life.
Tech & Startup Desk Photo: NASA/ JPL-Caltech/ MSSS NASA's Curiosity rover has captured a remarkable image of the Martian landscape at dawn, revealing ancient, wind-sculpted cliffs as sunlight spreads across the surface of the Red Planet.
The image, taken on August 11, 2026, and released by NASA in October, shows rugged geological formations known as yardangs on Mount Sharp, a mountain rising approximately five kilometres above the floor of Gale Crater.
Taken about an hour after sunrise, the rover's Mastcam camera captured the photograph, revealing jagged cliffs and distant ridges.
The formations are particularly interesting to scientists because their geological composition differs from surrounding rock layers. Researchers believe they may have originated from windblown sediments, potentially including volcanic ash, before billions of years of erosion shaped them into ridges.
Also covering this story
One other newsroom covered this event. We read that version too.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in