At first glance at this image, you'd be forgiven for mistaking it as a still from the latest science fiction blockbuster. But the photo is very much real, and was snapped by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover this week. The selfie shows the rover alongside a rock formation dubbed'Mont Mercou', a nickname taken from a mountain in France. And while the photo is impressive on its own, it was actually taken to celebrate Curiosity's 30th sample to date, after the rover drilled a hole at a nearby rock sample nicknamed'Nontron.' The selfie shows the rover alongside a rock formation dubbed'Mont Mercou', a nickname taken from a mountain in France So far 2021 has been the'year of Mars' with three spaceships from Earth arriving at the Red Planet.

Acting NASA Administrator Steve Jurczyk provides insight on'FOX News Live.' NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) released a stunning "selfie" taken by the Curiosity Mars rover on Tuesday. In a tweet, the Curiosity team explained the image was captured near the impressive rock formation named "Mont Mercou" after a mountain in France's southern region. NASA PREVIEWS FIRST MARS HELICOPTER FLIGHTS: EVERY STEP TAKEN IS'UNCHARTED TERRITORY' This selfie was taken in front of'Mont Mercou,' a rock formation that's 20ft (6m) tall," JPL posted, "It's made up of 60 images from my MAHLI camera and 11 images from my Mastcam. Look close enough to spot a new drill hole – my 30th sample to date." The selfie, taken earlier in the month, was posted alongside an additional pair of three-dimensional and panoramic shots of the Martian landscape.