Another beautiful day on Mars: NASA’s curiosity takes a leisurely winter stroll, one sol at a time

Curiosity Takes a Lazy Winter Stroll Across Martian Terrain (Image: NASA)

Even rovers need a lie-in during the Martian winter. NASA's Curiosity rover, nestled in the colder climate of Gale Crater, is taking it slow. The latest two-sol plan sees science and rest carefully balanced as the rover explores a nearby ridge and prepares for its next drive.

Imaging Rocks, Ridges, and Dust
With the chill of winter setting in, engineers delayed activities to the afternoon. Warmer conditions mean Curiosity uses less energy for heating. The rover’s work began with an extended remote sensing session. Mastcam captured colourful images of a trough and a nearby displaced block nicknamed “Ouro.” Scientists suspect it could be linked to a small impact crater. Curiosity also snapped sediment layers on “Volcán Peña Blanca,” a ridge believed to offer clues about its formation.

The dark face of bedrock named “Los Andes” was targeted by ChemCam’s laser, paired with Mastcam imagery. Together, these instruments examined another outcrop’s fine geometry. To track dust in the thin air, Curiosity used both Mastcam and Navcam for skyward observations.

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity acquired this image using its Left Navigation Camera on July 9, 2025 — Sol 4594, or Martian day 4,594 of the Mars Science Laboratory mission (Image: NASA)

A Gentle Brush and A Careful Drive
After a midday nap, the rover shifted to close-up science. Its robotic arm brushed dust off a bedrock target called “Cataratas del Jardín.” This and a nearby spot, “Rio Ivirizu,” were examined using the MAHLI and APXS tools. Both surfaces were flat and easy to reach, offering a simple day’s work for the rover’s team.

On the next sol, ChemCam and Mastcam turned their focus to “Torotoro,” a layered rock, while ChemCam’s RMI zoomed in on “Paniri,” a peculiar feature filled with contrasting material. More sky watching followed, including a dust devil survey and a suprahorizon movie.

Wheels in Motion Once Again
After another short rest, Curiosity resumed its drive. This time, it travelled about 50 metres southwest, navigating carefully around sandy pits and hidden terrain. The path ahead is mostly smooth, free from sharp rocks or steep drops that could damage its wheels. Once stopped, Curiosity completed its usual post-drive checks, including a MARDI camera scan under its belly.

As Curiosity winds down another day, mission planners are already eyeing the next destination, where more Martian secrets may lie beneath the dust.

(Inputs from NASA)