It’s been a big year for everyone, including the tenacious robot that’s been traversing the rocky hills and valleys of Mars, the Perseverance rover.
Perseverance successfully landed on the Red Planet in mid-February. Its initial mission: surveillance. It was Perseverance’s job to take pictures showing what Mars looks like up close and personal. Then, in May, it pivoted to scientist mode, and began conducting science experiments — a lot of hitting rocks with lasers! — to help us earthlings gain a better understanding of our close planetary neighbor.
Still, Perseverance continued to take photographs and send back its Martian dispatches to NASA. For the past 10 months, the public has been voting on a “picture of the week” from Perseverance’s photo dumps. NASA compiled the most-liked images into a cache of 44 snapshots.
Below are our favorites, including images of the Martian surface and of course, some Perseverance selfies. Enjoy.
Week 1’s picture of the week was a moody black and white POV shot.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Week 4’s pic of the week shows that the key to a good selfie is also getting that horizon line right.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Impressed with Perseverance’s Week 6 photography skills! Capturing that depth with multiple layers of terrain when it’s all a reddish-tan color is no easy feat!
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Has Perseverance been listening to Coldplay? Because the only way to describe Week 10 is to call it yellow.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
And you thought your iPhone could take a macro shot! This extreme-close up of a martian rock from Week 15 is brought to you by Perseverance’s “Super Cam.”
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
This Martian rock from Week 16 looks like it’s seen better days.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Arrakis ain’t got nothin’ on this most-liked photo of Mars from Week 33.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
OK…. On Mars, do rocks float?! Nah, that’s just the photo from Week 36 playin tricks on ya.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
On Week 39, Perseverance sent back high-quality intel of the perfect place to put a human butt.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
We’re looking forward to more other-worldly communiqués from Perseverance in 2022.
