Curiosity climbs to new heights on Mars | Space photo of the day for Aug. 28, 2026
NASA's Curiosity Mars rover captured a gorgeous new panorama to celebrate climbing a total of 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) throughout its now 14-year exploration of the Red Planet.
NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has captured a panoramic view of a vast valley on the side of Mount Sharp, the 3-mile-tall (5-kilometer) mountain it has been climbing since 2014. Taken on August 1 and 2, 2026, the 4,972nd and 4,973rd Martian days of the rover's mission, the photo consists of 323 individual images. The valley, named Valle Grande, and its floor and northern rim are visible in the distant background.
This achievement is significant as Curiosity's mission has been marked by numerous milestones. The rover's daring "sky crane" landing technique revolutionized Mars landings, and it has uncovered evidence of past liquid water flows and organic molecules on the Red Planet. Despite 14 years of travel and damage to its wheels, Curiosity continues to explore and gather scientific data. Perseverance, another NASA Mars rover, recently surpassed 26.2 miles (42.2 km) of travel, equivalent to a marathon, across the Martian surface.
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