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Curiosity has rolled into a fascinating low point in Gale Crater’s rugged boxwork terrain, a hollow that may hold important clues about Mars’ ancient past. Within this topographic dip, the rover is studying nodular, light-toned bedrock that could reveal how chemistry changes between ridges and hollows. Could these variations tell us more about the role of water and cementation in shaping the Martian landscape? 🌊➡️🪨

Today, Curiosity is placing its APXS instrument on a target named Asiruqucha while MAHLI captures close-up textures to provide the context behind the chemistry. Another intriguing subject is a crescent-shaped rock informally named Wedge Tailed Hillstar , spotted just above the “SI” letters on Curiosity’s arm in the Navcam image. MAHLI will zoom in to uncover its fine details.

Meanwhile, Mastcam stereo images are being collected of nearby features Cerro Paranal, Rio Frio, and Anchoveta. ChemCam is firing its laser at Camanchaca for compositional analysis and using its high-resolution RMI to peer into distant boxwork ridges. Once science activities wrap up, Curiosity will set off on a ~30 m (98 ft) drive toward a nearby ridge for the next phase of exploration.

Of course, no Martian sol is complete without atmospheric monitoring. REMS, RAD, and DAN continue their steady observations, measuring weather, radiation, and subsurface hydrogen to help us understand both Mars’ environment and its potential to have once supported life.

Step by step, hollow by ridge, Curiosity is piecing together the geologic story of Gale Crater, one rock at a time. 🌌

@OurGalaxy83

📸 Captured by: Left Navigation Camera
📅 Image Date: August 13, 2025 (Sol 4628) at 08:54:46 UTC
🗓️ Earth Planning Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2025
✍️ Written by Elena Amador-French, Science Operations Coordinator, JPL
🎶 Audio Editing: O.G. 83
🎬 Video Editing: O.G. 83
🎨 Visual Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

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