Today On Mars: MAHLI Translates Martian Discoveries For Human Eyes
The MAHLI Calibration Target Two images were combined to take this photo of the calibration target for the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI). That penny at the bottom? It's a sly nod to geologists' practice of putting coins in photos for size reference. NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems To get an idea of the color or size of an object on Mars, it helps to have a point of reference. Mars rover Curiosity has plenty of tools to help it see and explore, but we need some assistance to understand what those discoveries would look like back on Earth. The rover took this snapshot on a recent "sol" (Mars day) of the tool that helps make that possible: the MAHLI calibration target. It's two combined photos, actually, taken by Curiosity's Mars Hand Lens Imager, a handy camera used for close-up inspections. The calibration target is on the end of Curiosity's robotic...