HiRISE has produced 3D stereo anaglyphs from several acquired after the landing of MSL. Some of these image pairs have large stereo convergence angles, which exaggerates the relief.

This exaggeration is useful over very flat terrain like landing sites, but very difficult to view over steep terrains such as Aeolis Mons (Mount Sharp). Warning: the slopes looks about ten times steeper than is really this case.

The first image shows the Curiosity rover, before it moved from its initial landing site. Other cutouts show the impact sites for the descent stage, the backshell and parachute, and the heat shield.

Also shown is a view of Glenelg, the first science target of the mission, where three different geologic or surface units meet. Each of these surface units has a distinct appearance in the stereo anaglyph. Note: Curiosity and its tracks on the left-hand side of the image.

Written by: Alfred McEwen (10 October 2012)



About HiRISE
The HiRISE camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is the most powerful one of its kind ever sent to another planet. Its high resolution allows us to see Mars like never before, and helps other missions choose a safe spot to land for future exploration.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. The HiRISE camera was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. and is operated by the University of Arizona.