Curiosity is the $2.5 billion rover built by N.A.S.A. , it's purpose is to determine if Mars had ever supported microbial life, it's mission had begun August 5th 2012 and will continue until Aug 2014.

If you searched the web about this, I'm certain you will find quite a few photos and articles about it, but one photo that has really made a buzz is of the "composite" self-portrait!

Just this Halloween (Oct.31st), Curiosity had taken over 55 photos with it's MAHLI camera which is at the end of it's 5 jointed 7 foot long arm and sent the raw/thumbs images back to be stitched together to create this:


then shortly after the full-sized/full-resolution photos were sent and this was pieced together! +



So what's so special about this photo...?

The image helps researchers and engineers to track/assess the health/condition of the rover over time. Monitoring moveable parts, dust accumulation, wheel wear, and needed maintenance is so important that Curiosity was built with 17 cameras.

At a glance, it may appear that the rover is in the middle of nowhere, but in this photo Curiosity is in a place called "Rock Nest" which is where it started scooping then testing soil samples.
(you can see the scoop marks along the left)
The rise to the right leads to "Mt.Sharp" , the foothills of Mt. Sharp shows signs of long-ago exposure to liquid water which is why it is Curiosity's main destination.

Boldly go lil rover, now find some hard evidence of any life on mars ^,^