Curiosity Mars rover clicks rare sunspots

Washington: NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has provided images of sunspots from the other side of the Sun that is turned away from Earth. While investigating bedrock types on Mars' Mount Sharp and preparing for a drill test, Curiosity tracked large sunspots from the opposite side of the Sun.

"Tracking the sunspot activity on the far side of the sun is useful for space-weather forecasting. It helps us monitor how the sunspots evolve and grow before they become visible from this side," said Yihua Zheng, project leader for NASA space weather services.

Scientists temporarily have no other resource providing views of the Sun from the opposite side of the solar system from Earth. The sun completes a rotation about once a month faster near its equator than near its poles. NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft, which monitors the Sun, is currently almost exactly behind the Sun from Earth's perspective and is temporarily out of communication.

The Sun disrupts radio transmissions that pass too close to it. Communication with Curiosity was also suspended last month when Mars passed nearly behind the Sun but the rover resumed full communication and operations in late June.