Curiosity sends back first detailed images of Mars

NASA has released the first high resolution images taken by the Mars rover Curiosity, which reveal in stunning the detail the area where scientists plan to focus their research on.

In the images, which have been enhanced to show the Martian scene under the lighting conditions we have on Earth, three-mile high Mount Sharp is visible in the background.

The mountain rises from a vast impact crater known as Gale Crater, where Curiosity landed on August 6.

NASA scientists are particularly interested in what caused the slanted layers visible in Mount Sharp.