Why does NASA's Curiosity rover have a 'lucky penny' on Mars? | Space photo of the day for May 6, 2026

image via Space.com

May 6, 2026, 2:00 PM

• •The Curiosity rover found a penny on Mars.
• •The penny is used as a scale reference in images.
• •The penny has been on Mars since October 2, 2013.
• •Chelsea Gohd is a Senior Writer for Space.com.

NASA's Curiosity rover captured an image of a penny on Mars, serving as a scale reference in the photos. The penny, which traveled to Mars with the rover, is covered in Martian dust. This provides a sense of scale for the close-up images taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MHLI). The penny, minted in 1909, is a relic from Earth, showcasing the vast distance and difference between the two planets.

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