Strange Rocks on Mars
Explanation:
The rocks on Mars tell us stories about their past. To decipher these stories, a
scientist
must become a detective, searching for clues and
fitting them with theories. The
above
photograph of the
rocky Martian surface to the northeast of
Pathfinder's
landing site provides many such clues.
For example, at least three types of rocks are evident, marked with red,
white and blue arrows. The red arrows point to smooth rocks, which
Pathfinder scientists hypothesize have been eroded by tumbling
through ancient channels of water which evaporated long ago.
The blue arrows indicate a different type of rock, ragged ones
with sharp edges, hypothesized to have been ejected when
nearby craters formed or
volcanoes erupted. The white
areas are more mysterious, and might be some sort of composite material.
Sojourner was recently diverted to study these white areas to
gather more clues so continued detective work can yield better
insight into the Martian past.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
