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Bruce Murray Space Image Library

Curiosity Views Gediz Vallis Ridge

Curiosity Views Gediz Vallis Ridge
Curiosity Views Gediz Vallis Ridge NASA's Curiosity rover captured the images used to create this panorama while parked below Gediz Vallis Ridge on Mars. Curiosity captured the images on Aug. 19, 2023 and NASA released the panorama on Sept. 18, 2023. The ridge was one of the last features to form on Mount Sharp, the mountain Curiosity has been climbing since 2014. The ridge preserves a record of one of the last wet periods seen on this part of the planet. After one of the most difficult climbs the mission has ever faced, Curiosity spent 11 days at the ridge. It then left to explore Gediz Vallis Channel, through which water flowed about 3 billion years ago, carrying rocks and debris that piled up to form the ridge. NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS