Mars Explorer Rover Opportunity had been scouring the martian surface for a few months when it took this 2004 picture, close to the Fram Crater. Though these look like large size pebbles and stones, this image only shows about a 3 centimeter cross section of the Mars surface and was taken by the microscopic imager camera on Opportunity’s robotic arm. The official name for the pebbles and stones is actually spherules – these mineral concentrations are called “blueberries” and are rich in hematite.

We know that NASA’s Mars Opportunity rover is chocked full of cameras and instruments that have been sending back reams of data. Included are four wide angle black and white cameras that use visible light to help the rover avoid crashing into things and to keep it from getting lost on its Martian mission. These are appropriately labeled Hazard Avoidance Cameras (Hazcams). The above picture was taken by one of the Hazcams as Opportunity traversed through the western rim of Endeavour Crater in November of 2014. The picture shows us Opportunity’s robotic arm and portions of the pale Mars bedrock that were a subject of further study.

Curiosity Rover was traveling from Yellowknife Bay towards Mount Sharp last September and took this picture of the buttes and layers of the martian surface using its Mastcam. The picture has been adjusted to reflect colours of the rocks that are similar to what we would see on Earth. And even with some dusty conditions, this is an awe inspiring shot from Mars as Curiosity approaches Mount Sharp.

Curiosity rover captured this rock formation at an area called “Whale Rock” near the base of Mount Sharp. We see similar rocks formed by moving water here on Earth. NASA scientists believe that the cross-bedding seen in the above picture from Mars also points to a time in the planet’s past when water was present and waves may have loosened sediment and created this type of rock formation. This picture was taken by Curiosity’s Mast Camera (Mastcam).