PIA16160: Portrait of APXS on Mars
 Target Name:  Mars
 Is a satellite of:  Sol (our sun)
 Mission:  Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)
 Spacecraft:  Curiosity
 Instrument:  Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (MSL) 
Mastcam
 Product Size:  983 x 738 pixels (w x h)
 Produced By:  Malin Space Science Systems
 Full-Res TIFF:  PIA16160.tif (2.177 MB)
 Full-Res JPEG:  PIA16160.jpg (82.27 kB)

Click on the image above to download a moderately sized image in JPEG format (possibly reduced in size from original)

Original Caption Released with Image:

This image shows the Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) on NASA's Curiosity rover, with the Martian landscape in the background. The image was taken by Curiosity's Mast Camera on the 32nd Martian day, or sol, of operations on the surface (Sept. 7, 2012, PDT or Sept. 8, 2012, UTC). APXS can be seen in the middle of the picture.

This image let researchers know that the APXS instrument had not become caked with dust during Curiosity's dusty landing.

Scientists enhanced the color in this version to show the Martian scene as it would appear under the lighting conditions we have on Earth, which helps in analyzing the terrain.

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Image Addition Date:
2012-09-12