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NASA states, "This stop-motion video shows 297 frames from the Mars Descent Imager aboard NASA's Curiosity rover as it descended to the surface of Mars."

And, "These thumbnail images were received on Earth on Aug. 6, 2012, and cover the last two and a half minutes of descent."

The Curiosity Mars Descent Imager (MARDI) shot 4 frames per second (fps) heatshield separation (see the shield fly away) to the ground. A video was then produced of these still frames.

Check out this video on the NASA Curiosity website: Curiosity's Descent

The YouTube video, above, shows the same video.

For a bonus, see the first color image produced by Curiosity. Go to "Curiosity's First Color Image of the Martian Landscape"

The view in the photo is north of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity. It was taken by the MAHLI on the afternoon of the first day after landing (what is called Sol 1, the first day of exploration).

NASA adds, "In the distance, the image shows the north wall and rim of Gale Crater. The image is murky because the MAHLI's removable dust cover is apparently coated with dust blown onto the camera during the rover's terminal descent. Images taken without the dust cover in place are expected during checkout of the robotic arm in coming weeks."

And, "The MAHLI is located on the turret at the end of Curiosity's robotic arm. At the time the MAHLI Sol 1 image was acquired, the robotic arm was in its stowed position. It has been stowed since the rover was packaged for its Nov. 26, 2011, launch."

For more on the Mars Science Laboratory mission, what is centered around the Curiosity rover, go to the NASA Curiosity website.