Explore The Wind-Swept Landscape Of Mars In New 360-Degree Curiosity Rover Image

The panoramic scenes were captured from the "highest viewpoints" Curiosity has reached to date, said NASA.

There are no humans on Mars (yet, anyway). So, for now, we must content ourselves to explore the Red Planet from the comfort of our desk chairs.

This week, NASA released a new 360-degree image of Mars, captured by the Curiosity Rover.

The panoramic scenes were taken on April 4 at an area known as the Naukluft Plateau. The images, which were shot from the "highest viewpoints" Curiosity has reached to date, show “wind-sculpted textures in the sandstone bedrock close to the rover, and Gale Crater's rim rising above the crater floor in the distance,” writes NASA on its website.

Mount Sharp is seen in the middle of the crater, which measures about 96 miles in diameter.

Curiosity has covered about 8 miles since landing on Mars in August 2012.

The robot has achieved a great deal since its arrival on the planet, including finding evidence that ancient Mars had the key ingredients for life.

Watch another 360-degree image captured by Curiosity below. The footage was taken at the Namib Dune earlier this year:

Before You Go

Curiosity at Work on Mars

Curiosity: Mars Science Laboratory's Rover

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