Stop Whatever You’re Doing And Check Out The First HD Panoramic Pictures From Mars

Oh man this is, as the kids say, the tits, yo. And believe it or not, this is not the work of the Mars rover Curiosity we’ve heard so much about lately. No, the images the internet is having nerdgasms over this afternoon are coming from the Mars rover Opportunity, which has been on the planet for eight years.

During the Martian winter running from December of 2011 to May of 2012, Opportunity stayed in one spot, its solar panels waiting to catch the sun’s rays in the springtime. As it waited, it documented the view around where it sat, an outcrop known as Greeley Haven.

NASA has now taken 817 of the images to create this panorama, presented in false color to enhance the topographic features. So here it is in all its panoramic glory: Mars, a desolate sphere of rocks and dust, millions of miles away.

Go take a peek for yourself. Prepare to be mesmerized.