NASA's Curiosity rover has captured a spectacular new panorama of Mars, providing its clearest look yet at a series of mysterious cliffs shaped by wind. Scientists have been eager to examine these distant formations up close, and the latest images offer an exciting preview of what lies ahead. Taken at 8:30 a.m. local Mars time, the scene reveals striking blue tones across the foreground while morning sunlight illuminates rugged cliffs known as yardangs along the horizon.

Curiosity recorded the panorama using its Mastcam on August 11, during the mission's 4,982nd Martian day, or sol. Six separate photographs were transmitted to Earth and combined to create the sweeping view.…