The most expensive piece of geological equipment is on the move. After already making some amazing discoveries about the geology of Mars the rover, Curiosity, is starting its 8km journey to the site of its primary mission. To get there it will have to avoid an area of sand dunes which could trap it.
Curiosity has already discovered conglomerates and cross bedding indicating water erosion and transport as well as unconformities that suggest processes operating over extended periods of time. Most recently it has been investigating water-lain shales, possibly from a lake deposit. It's main mission though is to find evidence for microbial life that may once have exisited on the planet.
Its journey will take months, possibly over a year if something interesting is found along the way. I think that it is one of the most exciting pieces of geological research that's happening at present; what do you think it may find evidence of?
BBC News story
NASA Curiosity site
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