Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Curiosity basks in view of sunset, studies ancient valley

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


Chuck Bednar for redOrbit.com – @BednarChuck

NASA’s Mars Rover Curiosity has also recently taken some time to enjoy the sights of the planet, taking a detour to explore an ancient valley and capturing an image of a Martian sunset that it sent back to Earth last week.

The event was captured by the rover using its Mast Camera on April 15, and shows the sun dipping beneath the horizon while blue-tinged skies are visible in the background. Curiosity took the images between dust storms, but some dust particles remained visible suspended in the higher parts of the atmosphere.

“The colors come from the fact that the very fine dust is the right size so that blue light penetrates the atmosphere slightly more efficiently,” explained science-team member Mark Lemmon from of Texas A&M University, who planned the rover’s observations.

“When the blue light scatters off the dust, it stays closer to the direction of the sun than light of other colors does,” he added. “The rest of the sky is yellow to orange, as yellow and red light scatter all over the sky instead of being absorbed or staying close to the sun.”

Taking a detour

Also last week, NASA revealed that Curiosity had taken a slight detour from its planned path to take a closer look at a hillside location that was home to an ancient valley. The valley had been carved out and refilled, and the rover conducted observations and collected data to see how it was formed.

Curiosity recently spent the past several months looking at the lowest levels of the mountain’s basal geological unit, the Murray formation, at an outcrop called Pahrump Hills. Afterwards, it set off en route to a site known as Logan Pass, where scientists believe they will be able to use contact-science instruments onto a darker geological unit for the first time ever.

Pictures taken along the route from Pahrump Hills toward Logan Pass revealed a feature which looked like a feature known as an incised valley fill, “which is where a valley has been cut into bedrock and then filled in with other sediment,” explained Curiosity Project Scientist Ashwin Vasavada from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

Thus, in late April, the team chose to change course “to investigate what cut into the mudstone bedrock, and what process filled it back in,” he added. “The fill material looks like sand. Was the sand transported by wind or by water? What were the relative times for when the mudstone formed, when the valley was cut into it, when the cut was filled in?” Will we ever know?! Stay tuned.

—–

Follow redOrbit on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram and Pinterest.

redOrbit.com
offers Science, Space, Technology, Health news, videos, images and
reference information. For the latest science news, space news,
technology news, health news visit redOrbit.com frequently. Learn
something new every day.”


Source: http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1113388306/curiosity-basks-in-view-of-sunset-studies-ancient-valley-051115/


Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.


LION'S MANE PRODUCT


Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules


Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.



Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.


Report abuse

    Comments

    Your Comments
    Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

    MOST RECENT
    Load more ...

    SignUp

    Login

    Newsletter

    Email this story
    Email this story

    If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

    If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.