Fast Facts
On Sol 2410, Curiosity's NavCam captured images of Noctilucent clouds on Mars. These high-altitude water ice clouds form around the vaporized remnants of small meteoroids and are only visible around sunset.
Such cloods are common during the northern hemisphere's spring because the atmosphere is cool enough for water ice to condense.
Initially, the foreground was overly dark. One Lab team member is a photographer and appreciates when the foreground complements the background, so the image's shadows were tweaked to reveal the breathtaking Martian sands, making some adjustments in Lightroom Classic.
The dynamic range in the image was sufficient to make this possible.
The Martian sand is likely quite fine and powdery, unlike some Earthly deserts with coarse sand. This is because the thin Martian atmosphere doesn't have enough wind to create large, rolling dunes. The windblown dust settles to create a smoother, more textured surface.
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/132160802@N06/49364662882/in/dateposted/