NASA rover spots something on Mars that doesnt belong there
NASA’s Perseverance rover has made an intriguing discovery on Mars, identifying a rock that may potentially be an iron-nickel meteorite, nicknamed Phippsaksla. Measuring over 2.5 feet across, this uniquely sculpted rock stands out against the flat, fractured terrain of the Jezero crater, where Perseverance has been conducting its exploration since landing on the Red Planet in February 2021. The rover captured images of Phippsaksla on September 2 and September 19, but the announcement of this find was delayed due to a federal government shutdown that hindered NASA’s communication efforts. The details were finally shared with the public on November 13, sparking excitement among scientists and space enthusiasts alike.
If Phippsaksla is confirmed as a meteorite, it would mark Perseverance’s first such discovery, adding to the legacy of previous Mars rovers like Curiosity, which has cataloged several metal-rich meteorites in Gale Crater, located about 2,000 miles away. The absence of iron-nickel meteorites along Perseverance’s route has puzzled researchers, as the crater is geologically similar to Gale and has many smaller impact craters suggesting that meteorite falls should have occurred over time. Candice Bedford, a research scientist from Purdue University, noted the unexpected scarcity of these meteorites in Jezero crater, emphasizing the potential significance of Phippsaksla’s composition. Initial readings from Perseverance’s SuperCam indicated high levels of iron and nickel, typical of meteorites that originate from the cores of large asteroids, implying that Phippsaksla may have formed elsewhere before landing on Mars.
Meteorites are a common phenomenon in the solar system, with approximately 48.5 tons of debris entering Earth’s atmosphere daily, though most disintegrate or fall into oceans. Only about 60,000 meteorites have been identified on Earth, with a small number originating from Mars itself. In fact, at least 175 Martian meteorites have been discovered on Earth, all of which are igneous rocks formed from magma. On Mars, iron-nickel meteorites are thought to survive well in the planet’s thin atmosphere and harsh conditions, making them valuable targets for exploration. The Perseverance rover is currently analyzing older bedrock outside Jezero crater, a location that may yield more meteorite discoveries. Should Phippsaksla be confirmed as a meteorite, it would not only enhance our understanding of Mars’ geological history but also allow Perseverance to join the ranks of its predecessors in studying the remnants of extraterrestrial visitors to the planet.
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NASA
’s
Perseverance
rover has identified an exotic rock on
Mars
that may be an iron-nickel
meteorite
, according to scientists on the mission team.
The oddly sculpted rock, nicknamed Phippsaksla, measures more than 2.5 feet across and drew researchers’ attention because it jutted above the surrounding flat, fractured terrain. Perseverance targeted the object for closer study while working outside Jezero crater, the river-carved basin the rover has explored since landing in 2021.
The rover, a car-size mobile laboratory, photographed Phippsaksla on Sept. 2 and Sept. 19. But the public is only now learning of the find. A prolonged federal government shutdown delayed routine communications from the U.S.
space
agency, and NASA did not post details of the detection — along with other mission updates — until Nov. 13.
If confirmed as a meteorite, Phippsaksla would be the first such discovery for Perseverance. The Curiosity rover has cataloged several metal-rich meteorites during its exploration of Gale Crater
roughly 2,000 miles away
, and earlier rovers, Opportunity and Spirit, found these foreign rocks as well. Their absence along Perseverance’s route has puzzled mission scientists.
“It has been somewhat unexpected that Perseverance had not seen iron-nickel meteorites within Jezero crater,” said Candice Bedford, a Purdue University research scientist, in a delayed Oct. 1
mission update
, “particularly given its similar age to Gale crater and number of smaller impact craters suggesting that meteorites did fall on the crater floor, delta, and crater rim throughout time.”
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Initial readings from Perseverance’s SuperCam, an instrument that fires a laser to analyze a rock’s composition, revealed high levels of iron and nickel, a combination commonly found in meteorites that originate deep inside large asteroids. The chemistry suggests the rock formed elsewhere before landing on Mars.
Meteorites are common in the solar system, but harder to spot on Earth. Scientists estimate that about 48.5 tons of this
debris
reach the planet each day, most of it burning up in the atmosphere or falling into oceans. Only about 60,000 meteorites have been identified on Earth to date.
The oddly sculpted rock, nicknamed Phippsaksla, measures more than 2.5 feet across and drew researchers’ attention because it jutted above the surrounding flat, fractured terrain.
Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU
Most known meteorites come from asteroids, though a small number originate from the
moon
or Mars. At least
175 Martian meteorites
have been found on Earth — all igneous rocks that once crystallized from magma.
On Mars itself, iron-nickel meteorites tend to survive well in the thin atmosphere and harsh environment. Since 2005, The Meteoritical Society, an international organization that
tracks such finds
, has formally recognized 15 Martian meteorites spotted by rovers. Curiosity’s 2023 discovery of
a foot-wide rock nicknamed Cacao
, also believed to be metal-rich, is not yet among them.
Phippsaksla, possibly a meteorite, sits on Martian terrain outside the Jezero crater rim in the upper left corner of this image.
Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU
Scientists suspect iron meteorites might be able to resist erosion on Mars, which may explain why some appear perched on flat ground rather than embedded in craters. In other cases, a crater may have weathered away long ago, leaving only the rock behind.
Perseverance is now operating on older bedrock mottled by past impacts outside Jezero crater, a setting where meteorites may be more likely. Mission researchers are planning further analysis to determine Phippsaksla’s origin.
“If this rock is deemed to be a meteorite,” Bedford wrote, “Perseverance can at long last add itself to the list of Mars rovers who have investigated the fragments of rocky visitors to Mars.”
