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

A penny on Mars, captured in a photo by NASA's Curiosity rover. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS) Can you imagine picking up a lucky penny on Mars ? One rover already has. In this snapshot from the Red Planet, Martian dust covers a penny that has traveled farther than any human (so far). What is it? NASA's Curiosity rover captured a surprisingly Earthly image on the surface of Mars. With its Mars Hand Lens Imager (MHLI), the rover snapped a close-up image of a penny. …