Nov 25, 2012 6:30 AM

Gallery: Tracking Mars: Curiosity Makes Its Mark on the Red Planet

01
riding-deep
Since Curiosity landed on mars on Aug. 6, the rover has traveled hundreds of feet over the Martian surface. In the process, it has tracked up the sandy, dusty terrain, leaving tire marks, scoop divots, Morse code and [one tiny piece of itself](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/10/curiosity-bright-plastic/) behind. Unlike the Apollo astronauts' footprints on the moon, Curiosity's trails will probably be wiped away by the planet's frequent wind and sand storms. But there is still something so incredible about these little ephemeral marks we are making on another world. Though the physical traces won't last, their impact lives on in the images the rover is sending back to Earth. Here are some of our favorite shots of Curiosity's tracks on Mars. *Image: [NASA/JPL-Caltech](http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=NLA_406378191EDR_D0050178NCAM00313M_&s=100)*
02
tracks-and-arm
*[NASA/JPL-Caltech](http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=NLA_403263156EDR_F0050104NCAM00107M_&s=65)*

03
wheels-and-tracks-2
*[NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems](http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=0060MH0037001000E1_DXXX&s=60)*
04
morse-code-3
Curiosity stamps the Morse code for JPL in its tracks everywhere it goes. The symbols for J (.---), P (.--.) and L(.-..) can be seen in this shot. Scientists use the imprints to better gauge distance. *[NASA/JPL-Caltech](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia16112.html)*

05
overlapping-tracks
*[NASA/JPL-Caltech](http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/test/?rawid=NLA_406550905EDR_F0050202NCAM00453M_&s=102)*
06
close-up-color-tracks
*[NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems](http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=0059ML0268013000E1_DXXX&s=59)*

07
tracks-and-mount-sharp
*[NASA/JPL-Caltech](http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=RRA_404584335EDR_F0050104RHAZ00309M_&s=80)*
08
tracks-from-orbit
This image was taken on Sept. 2 by the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. *[NASA/JPL/University of Arizona](http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/releases/msl-tracks.php)*

09
curiositys-first-tracks-panorama
*[NASA/JPL-Caltech](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia16092.html)*
10
color-tracks
*[NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems](http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=0074MR0488021000E1_DXXX&s=74)*

11
scoop-and-tracks
*[NASA/JPL-Caltech](http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FRA_403351737EDR_F0050104FHAZ00202M_&s=66)*
12
beauty-shot
*[NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia16239.html)*

13
scalloped-tracks
*[NASA/JPL-Caltech](http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=NLA_406377737EDR_F0050178NCAM00338M_&s=100)*

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