Mars Panorama 360 from Curiosity

Which way up Mount Sharp ? In early September, the robotic rover Curiosity continued its ascent up the central peak of Gale Crater , searching for more clues about ancient water and further evidence that Mars could once have been capable of supporting life . On this recent Martian morning , before exploratory drilling, the rolling rover took this 360-degree panorama , in part to help Curiosity's human team back on Earth access the landscape and chart possible future routes. In the horizontally-compressed featured image, an amazing vista across Mars was captured, complete with layered hills , red rocky ground , gray drifting sand, and a dusty atmosphere. The hill just left of center has been dubbed Maria Gordon Notch in honor of a famous Scottish geologist . The current plan is to direct Curiosity to approach, study , and pass just to the right of Gordon Notch on its exploratory trek .