Curiosity rover captures unprecedented close-up of Martian sunrise and wind-shaped cliffs
NASA’s Curiosity rover photographed a sunrise on Mars, revealing detailed yardangs - wind-carved ridges - in a high-resolution panorama released on Oct. 6, 2026.
The Mastcam on Curiosity recorded the scene on Aug. 11, the mission’s 4,982nd sol, stitching six images into a single panorama. The view shows the planet’s dawn lighting elongated, erosion-formed cliffs that scientists have long awaited. The composite was transmitted to Earth and made public on Oct. 6, offering the clearest look yet at these wind-sculpted features.
