Mars rover sends back colour photos

The Curiosity rover has returned another postcard from Mars - the first 360-degree colour view from Gale Crater.

Since landing on Sunday night, Nasa's six-wheel rover has been sending home a trickle of pictures, beginning with grainy, black-and-white photos. It also beamed back a low-quality video showing the last few minutes of its descent to the surface.

It recently raised its mast containing high-resolution and navigation cameras that have given scientists a better view of the landing site.

Curiosity is on a two-year mission to study whether Gale ever had conditions favourable for microbial life.