On October 9, 2026, Alex Innanen reported on Curiosity’s activities during sols 5036 through 5042, marking the commencement of the Martian year and the arrival of the northern hemisphere spring. The mission utilizes the vernal equinox as its starting point for seasonal tracking, employing degrees of solar longitude to monitor changes in the planet's orbit. Scientists observed cloud formations throughout this period, documenting their movement across the Martian surface. Data collection focused specifically on atmospheric conditions and visual observations related to these evolving cloud patterns. This ongoing monitoring provides valuable insights into Mars’ climate dynamics and contributes to our understanding of the Red Planet.
Continue reading at www.nasa.gov
This PlaneNews briefing summarizes reporting originally published by www.nasa.gov.
Read the original article →
