Which planet would you say is one of the most studied by NASA? Mars is one of those for sure. For more than 50 years, scientists have sent robots and spacecraft to observe the planet’s surface, take pictures, and analyze its rocks. Thanks to all this work, experts thought they knew very well how Mars is and which type of materials there are in it.
However, a recent discovery has changed this idea. NASA found a yellow rock in Mars that doesn’t fit with its environment, which has shocked scientists because that rock doesn’t seem to be original from Mars. So, let’s learn more about this.
NASA finding in Mars
During a routine exploration, the Perseverance robot, which is in Mars now, took a picture of a rock that was different to the other ones. At first sight, this rock caught scientists’ attention because it wasn’t like usual rocks found on the planet (red or brown).
So, when scientists analyzed the image, they concluded that the rock shouldn’t be there. This means it didn’t fit the surrounding nor the materials normally found on Mars. For this reason, they started to study more about its origin.
The strange rock
Scientists have mapped the planet and studied its soil, winds, and ancient features such as river deposits. Although Mars may look quiet today, research has shown that its surface was shaped by many forces in the past.
Yet, this rock was different because it was found in a region called Jezero, an area where the Perseverance robot explores very carefully. When observing the surroundings, scientists noticed that no other rock nearby was similar. So, there was nothing around that could explain this rock’s presence.
This is why experts described it as a strange and far rock from our planet.
Features of the rock
The rock was named Phippsaksla by the scientific team. The rock has very clear features that make them stand out, such as:
- It has a bright yellow appearance.
- It measures about 31 inches wide, or around 80 centimeters.
- It stands out clearly against the red soil of Mars.
These physical features already made the rock interesting, but the real surprise came from studying what it was made of.
What scientists learnt from the rock
When scientists studied the Phippsaksla rock, they found it was very high in iron and nickel. This was key because both elements are common in meteorites and they are not usual on normal rocks from Mars.
Meteorites are rocks travelling throughout space and they can hit other planets. This is why, when finding great amounts of iron and nickel, scientists started to think this rock wasn’t part of Mars, but it came from space.
Who is behind this investigation?
The team studying this rock is led by Candice Bedford, an expert on minerals and chemistry of rocks from Purdue University. The finding happened on September 19, while the Perseverance was on a routine exploration.
Since then, NASA has started to analyze this rock in more detail to understand where it comes from and how it reached Mars.
How much do we know about Mars?
Before this finding, scientists already thought Mars had received materials from space. However, this rock allows them to study them in a more direct way.
Thanks to advanced technologies, scientists can now analyze these rocks more precisely. This helps better understand how meteorites affect the surface of the planet and how it influences its evolution.
This type of discovery can also influence future missions to Mars, since it proves the planet still keeps secrets (even after so many years of exploration).