The shape of the tip of the bit in the drill of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity is apparent in this view recorded by the remote micro-imager in the rover's Chemistry and Camera instrument during the 172nd Martian day, or sol, of Curiosity's work on Mars (Jan. 29, 2012).

The bit is about 0.6 inch (1.6 centimeters) wide. This view merges three exposures taken by the camera at different focus settings to show more of the hardware in focus than would be seen in a single exposure.

JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, manages the Mars Science Laboratory Project for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. JPL designed and built the rover.

More information about Curiosity is online at http://www.nasa.gov/msl and http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/.