"I used color filter to make it more representable,” Bodrov wrote to TPM via email. “Color photos of Mars look different, but NASA still has not published enough source materials to assemble a complete panorama. I am just waiting for new photos." (http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/08/mars-curiosity-...)
The amount of traffic generated by being on the front page is huge compared to not being on the front page. Our launch resulted in 41 website visitors total for the day. So having a hook and catching the HN community's attention with something very interested is key to getting noticed. Not everything is as exciting as founders like to think it is :)