Curiosity Mars rover sizes up new 'Nazca' dig site | Space photo of the day for Nov. 10, 2026
NASA's Curiosity Mars rover is sizing up its next dig site on the Red Planet. The Curiosity team will characterize the surface composition of "Nazca" as thoroughly as possible before drilling.
NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has been examining a new potential drill site on the Red Planet, informally named Nazca. On October 18, 2026, the rover captured a close-up image of the area using its Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), showcasing numerous disk-shaped potential crystal formations. The team will analyze the surface composition in detail before drilling begins.
Scientists theorize that the crystal forms' distinctive disc and needle shapes result from crystal growth. The relatively large size of these formations may provide insights into the temperatures during growth and the abundance of salts and fluids in the area at the time. However, crystal replacements by other minerals, known as pseudomorphs, complicate the picture.
The Curiosity team aims to characterize Nazca's surface composition before any drilling takes place. By comparing the deeper composition to the surface-level composition, NASA researchers can better understand the site and its potential for unlocking secrets of the Red Planet.
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