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NASA ’s Perseverance scouter has blob an outstandingly light - color rock in Mars’Jezero Crater — the likes of which has never been see on the Red Planet before . harmonize to project researchers , the strange bowlder may hint at novel item about Mars ' ancient past .
The rock , nickname " Atoko Point " after a likewise light - discolour feature article of the Grand Canyon , is " in a league of its own , " clearly abide out amidst all the darker boulders dotting the search area near the crater ’s Mount Washburn , the team wrote in a NASAstatement . Scientists becharm their first glimpse of the rock’n’roll as part of an 18 - epitome photomosaic choose on May 27 .
An image taken by NASA’s Perseverance on May 27 while surveying Mount Washburn caught sight of the pale boulder “Atoko Point”.
Atoko Point is forecast to measure 18 inches ( 45 centimeters ) wide and 14 inches ( 35 centimeters ) tall . Using the rover ’s tv camera instruments , SuperCam and Mastcam - Z , the scientists confirmed that the rock was made of pyroxene and feldspar . The team speculated that the wan rock may have been transported from a dissimilar part of the satellite via an ancient river , or make underground by a body of magma before at long last being revealed through erosion .
" The diversity of texture and composition at Mount Washburn was an exciting discovery for the team , as these rocks represent a snap travelling bag of geologic talent brought down from the crater rim and potentially beyond,“Brad Garczynskiof Western Washington University in Bellingham and conscientious objector - Pb of the current science campaign read in the statement .
The researchers added that while Atoko is " first of its variety " blot on Mars , it almost for certain " wo n’t be the last " as Perseverance continues its mission toward the rim of Jezero Crater .
A map of Perseverance’s mission route along the Neretva Vallis river channel, the path to Bright Angel.
Related : NASA ’s Perseverance rover may already have find out signs of life history on Mars , uncovering of ancient lake sediments bring out
Perseverance set down on Mars in February 2021 , and has been exploring Jezero Crater — a part think to have once been an ancient lake — ever since . The rover ’s primary mission is to discover signs of ancient life , and it has already collected 24 geological samples for next cogitation .
The current trip through Jezero Crater is part of Perseverance ’s fourth science campaign to find carbonate and olivine minerals along the volcanic crater ’s rim . On Earth , carbonates are usually find on the shallow surface of freshwater lakes , forming when carbon dioxide reacts with water . By analyzing these minerals , scientists may arrest a glimpse of theMars ' past carbon paper dioxide levels , an of import indicator of its historical clime . Carbonates are also splendid mineral for uphold fogy , which may point to traces of ancient life , if they existed .
latterly , Perseverance has been doing a little detour from Mount Washburn to attain " shining Angel " , an area within theNeretva Vallischannel , an ancient river that once flowed to Jezero Crater . The team will resolve whether to collect a rock magnetic core sample as they survey the newfangled territory .
