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Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) is one of seventeen cameras on the ''Curiosity'' rover on the 
calibration target3-D image
for MAHLI includes color references, a metric bar graphic, a 1909 VDB
MAHLI
from NASA
''Curiosity''s Landscape Portrait in Context
from NASA {{Mars Mars imagers Mars Science Laboratory instruments
Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) is one of seventeen cameras on the ''Curiosity'' rover on the Mars Science Laboratory
Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) is a robotic spacecraft, robotic space probe mission to Mars launched by NASA on November 26, 2011, which successfully landed ''Curiosity (rover), Curiosity'', a Mars rover, in Gale (crater), Gale Crater on August ...
mission.
Overview
The instrument is mounted on the rover's robotic arm. It is primarily used to acquire microscopic images of rock and soil, but it can also be used for other images. MAHLI can take true-color images at 1600×1200pixel
In digital imaging, a pixel (abbreviated px), pel, or picture element is the smallest addressable element in a raster image, or the smallest point in an all points addressable display device.
In most digital display devices, pixels are the smal ...
s with a resolution as high as 14.5 micrometers
The micrometre (American and British English spelling differences#-re, -er, international spelling as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; SI symbol: μm) or micrometer (American and British English spelling differences# ...
per pixel. MAHLI has an 18.3 mm to 21.3 mm focal length and a 33.8- to 38.5-degree field of view. MAHLI has both white and ultraviolet LED
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor Electronics, device that Light#Light sources, emits light when Electric current, current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy i ...
illumination for imaging in darkness or fluorescence
Fluorescence is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation. It is a form of luminescence. In most cases, the emitted light has a longer wavelength, and therefore a lower photon energy, tha ...
imaging. MAHLI also has mechanical focusing in a range from infinite to millimetre distances. This system can make some images with focus stacking
Focus stacking (also known as focal plane merging and z-stacking or focus blending) is a digital image processing technique which combines multiple images taken at different focus distances to give a resulting image with a greater depth of fiel ...
processing. MAHLI can store either the raw images or do real-time lossless predictive or JPEG compression. Thcalibration target
for MAHLI includes color references, a metric bar graphic, a 1909 VDB
Lincoln penny
The Lincoln cent (sometimes called the Lincoln penny) is a one-cent coin that has been struck by the United States Mint since 1909. The obverse or heads side was designed by Victor David Brenner, as was the original reverse, depicting two stalks ...
, and a stairstep pattern for depth calibration.
NASA says, "The main purpose of ''Curiosity''s MAHLI camera is to acquire close-up, high-resolution views of rocks and soil at the rover's Gale Crater field site. The camera is capable of focusing on any target at distances of about 0.8 inch (2.1 centimeters) to infinity. This means it can, as shown here, also obtain pictures of the Martian landscape."
The device is also used to take photos of the rover. One of those photos was considered in 2013 by '' Discovery News'' as one of the best space robot selfies.
References
External links
MAHLI
from NASA
''Curiosity''s Landscape Portrait in Context
from NASA {{Mars Mars imagers Mars Science Laboratory instruments