Snow on Mars evidence: NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter returns evidence of 'snowfall' on Mars

"We're just completely and totally enthralled and excited by this image," Yingst said.

Another new photo shows the rover's tracks from its first drives on Mars, as seen from the HiRISE camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Scientists can get insights about how changes on the Martian surface, as dust is deposited, by examining these tracks over time. HiRISE also took an image of the parachute and back shell that helped Curiosity arrive safely.

Curiosity made a dramatic landing on August 6 in a complicated maneuver involving a large parachute and a sky crane. Scientists and fans watched the live NASA feed from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as mission specialists confirmed the touchdown. The landing site has been dubbed Bradbury Landing after science fiction author Ray Bradbury.

In the interim, researchers have been checking out the many different instruments on board Curiosity. The rover also did a test drive in August and has moved away from the landing site. Now, everything except for the arm and sampling system is already operational, scientists said.

The rover is currently 82 meters (269 feet, measured as the crow flies) from Bradbury Landing. It will remain there for about another week while scientists continue testing. In about a month, scientists plan to have Curiosity scoop up some Martian material.

Because the rover is taking images as it goes, planners can determine whether it's making progress and how much slippage there is. It appears that there is very little slippage going on, Watkins said.

Curiosity's next destination is Glenelg, a site with three types of terrain, including layered bedrock, that may be a prime target for drilling.

Ultimately, the rover will end up at Mount Sharp, about 3 miles high and composed of hundreds of layers of rock that built up over time. As the rover climbs, it will sample different layers to investigate signs that life could have once existed on Mars.