The Cerberus hemisphere of the planet Mars, as seen in a mosaic of 104 images from NASA’s Viking orbiter in February of 1980. Cerberus is the dark region left of center in this view of Mars, marked by fossae, or deep trenches. The volcanic plains to the south of Cerberus are Elysium Planitia.

On the western edge of Elysium Planitia, along the limb of the planet at around 8:00, is the dark U-shape marking Gale Crater, where NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory and Curiosity Rover will land next August to explore the geology of the 3 mile high mound at the center of the 96 mile diameter impact crater (image credit: NASA/USGS/Jody Swann/Tammy Becker/Alfred McEwen).