A six-image Mastcam panorama taken on the morning of 11 August 2026 (sol 4,982), left unwhite-balanced, shows blue tones in front of Curiosity and sunlit wind-carved cliffs called yardangs about 16 km away on Mount Sharp. Their layer has a different colour and tilts at an odd angle; project scientist Ashwin Vasavada says it “almost appears plastered on”, and one idea is ash from ancient volcanic eruptions. Curiosity, now about 1 km higher than where it began its climb, aims to reach their base in 2027.
16 kmto the sunlit cliffs (yardangs)
≈ 1 kmclimbed by Curiosity, a Mars record
2027planned arrival at the cliffs’ base