NASA's Curiosity rover captured the rays that break through the clouds at sunset on February 2 , 2023 , at 3730
Curiosity photographed the sunset on Krasnayaplanet during the latest study of twilight clouds. While most Martian clouds hover no more than 60 km above the surface and are composed of water ice, in recent images they are much higher than usual. This suggests that they are composed of carbon dioxide or dry ice, NASA explains.
Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
As on Earth, clouds provide scientistscomplex but important information for understanding the weather. By studying when and where they form, scientists can learn more about the composition and temperature of the Martian atmosphere, as well as the winds within it.
The 2021 cloud study includedadditional images from Curiosity's black-and-white navigation cameras, which provided a detailed view of the structure of the cloud as it moved. But the recent study, which began in January and will end in mid-March, is more likely to rely on data from the Mastcam color camera, which helps scientists see how cloud particles grow over time.
Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/SSI
Also, on January 27, Curiosity captured a set of multicolored clouds in the shape of a feather.The photos were taken just after sunset on the 3724th Martian day or sol of the Curiosity mission.
Curiosity was built by the Jet Laboratorypropulsion (JPL) NASA, which is managed by the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. JPL is leading the mission on behalf of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego built and operates Mastcam.
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Cover photo: Kevin Gill