Updated

NASA's Curiosity rover team published a blog update on October 20, 2026, covering sols 5036-5042 and marking the start of a new Mars year, which begins at the northern hemisphere's vernal equinox. Written by atmospheric scientist Alex Innanen of York University, the post detailed the rover's ongoing observations of Martian clouds as part of its seasonal tracking work. The update is part of Curiosity's routine scientific reporting on Mars' atmosphere and seasons, contributing to long-term climate data gathered during the rover's extended mission on the Red Planet.