The latest images to be sent back from the Mars rover Curiosity were released by NASA mere hours ago.
Although most of the images were enhanced to show Mars as it would appear under the lighting conditions we have on Earth (the landscape would be a little pinker in real life), scientists are surprised by how similar the terrain of Mount Sharp is to the Grand Canyon.
The lower reaches of Mount Sharp form a succession of strata as thick as those exposed in the Grand Canyon, and with a diversity of colors to match, complete with buttes and mesas. The major difference is that the strata of the Grand Canyon are exposed along a great valley, whereas the strata of Mount Sharp are exposed along the flanks of a great mountain.
Mount Sharp is the mountain inside of Gale Crater, the rover's landing site. It rises 3 miles above the crater floor and is Curiosity's eventual destination.