3 min read<\/p>\n
Sols 4184-4185: Look Near! Look Far!<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"This](\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/nlb-768835802edr-s1071140ncam00285m-.jpg?w=1024\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nThis image was taken by Left Navigation Camera onboard NASA\u2019s Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 4183 (2024-05-13 02:30:29 UTC).<\/div>\nNASA\/JPL-Caltech<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nEarth planning date: Monday,\u00a0May 13, 2024<\/p>\n
Today I\u2019ve chosen to show off a spectacular image of \u2018Texoli butte,\u2019 but I\u2019m rather biased in my assessment of its beauty because I am currently part of the team studying it. What continues to marvel me is Curiosity\u2019s incredible suite of instruments that can not only help us to assess the rocks around us, but can be used to see very high detail of rocks hundreds of meters away \u2013 like Texoli butte \u2013 and today we took advantage of those superpowers!<\/p>\n
ChemCam is looking far away for us over the next 2 sols, starting with a long-distance RMI of Texoli butte. On the second sol, we are looking at a structure further up Gediz Vallis channel that we won\u2019t be driving up to named \u2018Milestone Peak.\u2019 The long-distance observations are really useful in ensuring we can see everything we need to, even if we don\u2019t drive super close. We then take a glimpse between the buttes of Gediz Vallis and above the sulfate-bearing unit<\/a> we are currently driving in to the yardang unit for the final long-distance RMI of this plan. We can also use Curiosity\u2019s super vision to look at the atmosphere! Over the next 2 sols, Mastcam will measure the amount of dust in the atmosphere in a tau measurement, and Navcam will take a suprahorizon movie as well as being on the lookout for dust devils.<\/p>\nAs well as really far away, Curiosity is a specialist at looking and taking measurements of rocks right in front of us. Curiosity will be taking APXS measurements and MAHLI observations on two nearby rocks named \u2018Tenaya Lake\u2019 and \u2018Buck Lake.\u2019 On the same rock as Buck Lake, ChemCam will be taking a LIBS measurement on a target named \u2018Illilouette Falls,\u2019 and another rock a little further away called \u2018Redwood Canyon,\u2019 as well as a passive observation on a dark-toned rock named \u2018Cox Col.\u2019 Mastcam will document these observations, as well as looking back at the south side of Pinnacle Ridge<\/a> we have just driven around. In total, Mastcam will spend 1 hour documenting the rocks here at the Gediz Vallis Ridge, including a 15\u00d73 mosaic during an early morning wake-up call at 07:30 to take advantage of the morning light on Mars.<\/p>\nThe science team did a wonderful job today documenting all things near and far in this beautiful workspace. As the Keeper of the Plan for the Geology and Mineralogy theme group today, I really enjoyed helping to make this plan a reality, and I can\u2019t wait to see all the fantastic images and data we get back from Mars.<\/p>\n
Written by Emma Harris, Graduate Student at Natural History Museum<\/p>\n
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![\"This](\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/nlb-768835802edr-s1071140ncam00285m-.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>Earth planning date: Monday,\u00a0May 13, 2024<\/p>\n
Today I\u2019ve chosen to show off a spectacular image of \u2018Texoli butte,\u2019 but I\u2019m rather biased in my assessment of its beauty because I am currently part of the team studying it. What continues to marvel me is Curiosity\u2019s incredible suite of instruments that can not only help us to assess the rocks around us, but can be used to see very high detail of rocks hundreds of meters away \u2013 like Texoli butte \u2013 and today we took advantage of those superpowers!<\/p>\n
ChemCam is looking far away for us over the next 2 sols, starting with a long-distance RMI of Texoli butte. On the second sol, we are looking at a structure further up Gediz Vallis channel that we won\u2019t be driving up to named \u2018Milestone Peak.\u2019 The long-distance observations are really useful in ensuring we can see everything we need to, even if we don\u2019t drive super close. We then take a glimpse between the buttes of Gediz Vallis and above the sulfate-bearing unit<\/a> we are currently driving in to the yardang unit for the final long-distance RMI of this plan. We can also use Curiosity\u2019s super vision to look at the atmosphere! Over the next 2 sols, Mastcam will measure the amount of dust in the atmosphere in a tau measurement, and Navcam will take a suprahorizon movie as well as being on the lookout for dust devils.<\/p>\n As well as really far away, Curiosity is a specialist at looking and taking measurements of rocks right in front of us. Curiosity will be taking APXS measurements and MAHLI observations on two nearby rocks named \u2018Tenaya Lake\u2019 and \u2018Buck Lake.\u2019 On the same rock as Buck Lake, ChemCam will be taking a LIBS measurement on a target named \u2018Illilouette Falls,\u2019 and another rock a little further away called \u2018Redwood Canyon,\u2019 as well as a passive observation on a dark-toned rock named \u2018Cox Col.\u2019 Mastcam will document these observations, as well as looking back at the south side of Pinnacle Ridge<\/a> we have just driven around. In total, Mastcam will spend 1 hour documenting the rocks here at the Gediz Vallis Ridge, including a 15\u00d73 mosaic during an early morning wake-up call at 07:30 to take advantage of the morning light on Mars.<\/p>\n The science team did a wonderful job today documenting all things near and far in this beautiful workspace. As the Keeper of the Plan for the Geology and Mineralogy theme group today, I really enjoyed helping to make this plan a reality, and I can\u2019t wait to see all the fantastic images and data we get back from Mars.<\/p>\n Written by Emma Harris, Graduate Student at Natural History Museum<\/p>\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n