Mars rover: On the road again (pictures)

After a prolonged respite, the Mars Curiosity rover is hitting the road -- or what passes for a road up there -- headed for a region of the Red Planet known as Mount Sharp, 5 miles away from its current location. Scientists hope the area will shed further light on the evolution of Mars. Scientists say that satellite images of the region suggest the presence of sediment deposits left there by ancient water.

This is the general route that Curiosity will take.

The 1-ton Curiosity rover has spent the last six months roughly in the same area. Now it's again on the move. In this image, a look back at wheel tracks made during the first drive away from the so-called Glenelg area.

A self-portrait of Curiosity.

Meanwhile, the other rover, Opportunity, has been studying the western rim of Endeavour Crater since arriving there in August 2011. It's now heading out to investigate the Solander Point region.

A view of the pale rock called "Esperence." Opportunity took samples which revealed a higher composition of aluminum and silica, and lower in calcium and iron, than other rocks investigated by the rover. The findings also raised hope among scientists who say that the preliminary interpretation suggests that the rock's clay mineral content was linked to the "intensive alteration by water."

Earlier this spring, Curiosity drilled out powdered samples which were later analyzed by its in-house laboratory instruments.

A comparison of the distances driven by various wheeled vehicles on the surface of Earth's moon and Mars.

A shot of the surface of the "Point Lake" outcrop.

Phobos, the larger of the two moons of Mars, passes over the Mars rover Curiosity. This is a composite of 86 images centered straight overhead starting shortly after sunset.

Another view of the route driven by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity through July 8, 2013.

The Point Lake region of Mars' Gale Crater, where Mount Sharp rises some 3.4 miles above the planet's surface.

Another view of Gale Crater from the north.

During its earlier work, Curiosity discovered remnants of an ancient Martian stream.