Curiosity illuminates Nevado Sajama drill hole with arm LEDs at night

NASA’s Curiosity rover used LED lights on the end of its robotic arm to illuminate a drill hole nicknamed “Nevado Sajama,” producing a rare nighttime view of the Martian surface on Dec. 6, 2025 (Sol 4,740).

The LEDs are part of the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), and the image was captured by the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on the rover’s mast. Scientists have at times used MAHLI’s LEDs to light areas deep in shadow during the day, and much earlier in the mission they used the LEDs at night to look for layering or other features in drill hole walls.

Curiosity drilled the Nevado Sajama target on Nov. 13, 2025 (Sol 4,718). After a change in the rover’s drilling method had made many holes too rough and dusty to reveal details, the team found this drill hole’s walls smooth enough to try nighttime illumination. The drilling was conducted while the rover was exploring a region of boxwork geologic formations that crisscross the surface for miles.

Curiosity was built by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is managed by Caltech in Pasadena and leads the mission for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego built and operates both Mastcam and MAHLI.

Key Topics

Science, Curiosity Rover, Mars, Nevado Sajama, Mahli, Mastcam