Rock Fingers on Mars
Explanation:
There, just right of center, what is that?
The surface of Mars keeps revealing new
surprises with the recent discovery of finger-like rock spires.
The small nearly-vertical rock outcrops were
imaged last month by the
robotic Curiosity rover on
Mars.
Although similar in size and shape to small
snakes,
the leading explanation for their origin is as conglomerations of small minerals
left by water flowing through rock crevices.
After these relatively dense minerals filled the crevices,
they were
left behind
when the surrounding rock eroded away.
Famous
rock outcrops
on Earth with a similar origin are called
hoodoos.
NASA's
Curiosity Rover continues to search for new signs of ancient water in
Gale Crater on Mars, while also providing a geologic background important for
future
human exploration.
Explore Your Universe:
Random APOD Generator
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.
