This image shows changes in the target landing area for
Curiosity, the rover of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory project.
The larger ellipse was the target area prior to early June 2012,
when the project revised it to the smaller ellipse centered
nearer to the foot of Mount Sharp, inside Gale Crater. This
oblique view of Mount Sharp is derived from a combination of
elevation and imaging data from three Mars orbiters. The view is
looking toward the southeast. The larger ellipse, 12.4 miles (20
kilometers) by 15.5 miles (25 kilometers) was already smaller
than the landing target area for any previous Mars mission, due
to this mission's techniques for improved landing precision.
Continuing analysis after the Nov. 26, 2011, launch resulted in
confidence in landing within an even smaller area, about 12
miles by 4 miles (20 by 7 kilometers). Using the smaller
ellipse, the Mars Science Laboratory Project also moved the
center of the target closer to the mountain, which holds
geological layers that are the prime destin