A mysterious Mars photo led some to believe that the Curiosity Rover had discovered life on the red planet in one of its very first images. NASA, however, says it was probably just dirt.

The LA Times reports that one of the first images sent back from the Mars Curiosity Rover showed a “faint but distinctive” blotch on the horizon. On subsequent images, however, the blotch is gone.

What was that faint smoke in the distance? A martian civilization hurrying underground? A smudge of dirt on the Curiosity’s camera? A piece of the Rover crashing in the distance?

The Lookout reports that the blotch remains a mystery but NASA has a few theories.

The space organization released a “crime scene” photo of the Curiosity Rover’s landing site and believes that the smudge in the distance could be the “sky crane,” the spacecraft that flew the rover to mars, crashing to the red planet.

The LA Times writes:

“The crime scene photo showed that the sky crane had crash-landed, as designed, about 2,000 feet away—and in the same direction that Curiosity’s camera was pointed when it snapped the first photo showing the blotch. The new satellite photo also showed that the sky crane, when it crash-landed, kicked up a violent wave of dirt that had scarred the surface of Mars.”

But according to Curiosity mission manager Michael Watkins, it’s unlikely that the Curiosity captured the sky crane in the photo.

Watkins said:

“I don’t think you can rule it out… It bears looking into. It would be incredibly cool. … A crazy, serendipitous thing.”

Emily Lakdawalla, senior editor at the Planetary Society, added:

“It’s circumstantial evidence — but it’s pretty good circumstantial evidence… It looks like we may actually have seen it, but it’s hard to know.”

Here’s the mysterious mars photo. What is the blotch on the horizon?

Do you think the Curiosity captured the Sky Crane falling to the surface of Mars? Or is it just a spec of dirt?

When the photo was released, NASA wrote:

“It was taken through a ‘fisheye’ wide-angle lens on one of the rover’s rear left Hazard-Avoidance cameras at one-quarter of full resolution. The clear dust cover on the camera is still on in this view, and dust can be seen around its edge, along with three cover fasteners.”

You can see more photos from the mission to Mars here. 

Mysterious Mars Photo Captures ‘Serendipitous’ Moment is a post from: The Inquisitr

NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover has only been on the surface of the red planet for a few days but it has already sent back several photos and videos. Today, NASA released the first color image from the Curiosity’s mission.

During it’s first few hours on Mars the Curiosity sent back several low-res, black and white photos of the martian surface. (You can see those photos here.) But now that the Mars Rover is getting acclimated to the new terrain, it’s starting to use some of its more advanced cameras.

According to NASA, the new Mars photo was taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) on Sol 1, the first day after landing.

NASA writes:

“In the distance, the image shows the north wall and rim of Gale Crater. The image is murky because the MAHLI’s removable dust cover is apparently coated with dust blown onto the camera during the rover’s terminal descent. Images taken without the dust cover in place are expected during checkout of the robotic arm in coming weeks.”

NASA explains that the  MAHLI camera is meant for close-up, high-resolution photos of rocks and soil. The camera can focus on objects as close as .08 inches. Thankfully, it can also take pictures of landscapes and faraway objects.

Here’s the new color photo of Mars from the Curiosity Rover.

You can check out the first photos sent back from the Mars Curiosity Rover here or take a look at the first video taken by the red planet’s newest inhabitant here. 

[Top Image Was Taken By Another Rover On Mars. You Can See The Full Photo Here.]

New Mars Photo: Curiosity Sends Back First Color Image Of Red Planet is a post from: The Inquisitr

NASA’s Mars Rover Opportunity has been exploring the red planet for the last eight years. Several photos have been beamed back to earth over the years but today’s photo is something different. It’s a panoramic view of the martian landscape.

NASA reports that the photo was taken by the panoramic camera (Pancam) on NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity near “Greeley Haven,” a segment of the ancient Endeavour Crater.

NASA writes:

“It was assembled from 817 component images taken between Dec. 21, 2011, and May 8, 2012, while Opportunity was stationed on an outcrop informally named “Greeley Haven,” on a segment of the rim of ancient Endeavour Crater.”

The panoramic Mars photo comes just as the Rover Opportunity celebrates its 3,000th day on Mars. It also coincides with NASA’s 15th year on Mars. The Mars Pathfinder landed on the Red Planet on July 4, 1997.

Jim Bell of Arizona State University, Tempe, Pancam lead scientist, said:

“The view provides rich geologic context for the detailed chemical and mineral work that the team did at Greeley Haven over the rover’s fifth Martian winter, as well as a spectacularly detailed view of the largest impact crater that we’ve driven to yet with either rover over the course of the mission.”

The Rover Opportunity and its twin, Spirit, have been on Mars since January 2004. They will soon be joined by the Mars Rover Curiosity, which is scheduled to touch down on the red planet next month.

Here’s the panoramic photo of Mars taken by the Rover Opportunity.

Mars Panorama Photo: NASA Releases New Image Of The Red Planet is a post from: The Inquisitr