NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover has noticed a mysterious object in the corner. “eye”A mysterious rock which resembles hundreds of spider’s eggs. This rock was found on Witch Hazel Hill, on the edge of Jezero Crater. It is slightly dusted in red sand, and it looks out of place.
The Perseverance Team named this rock “St. Pauls Bay,” It is called floatrock because it was not found in the place where it originated. NASA says that it is missing the context clues which could have explained its unusual texture.
The geologic context is also missing. The rock’s movement from its initial location could provide clues about Martian geology. This rock could have formed after a meteorite hit Mars, which vaporized rock and then condensed it into the tiny granules shown in the picture. NASA said that if this is the case, then the rock may have come from a long way away. It could also reveal the method by which meteorites transport material on Mars.
The map below shows the approximate route taken by Perseverance to reach Witch Hazel Hill. Important landmarks are labeled. Perseverance collected rock samples at some of these landmarks. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona)
NASA says it’s possible the rock fell down Witch Hazel Hill. Scientists have observed darker layers of rock on Witch Hazel Hill. Scientists could learn more about the darker layers of Witch Hazel Hill by doing a closer study. NASA officials wrote that if they are similar to St. Pauls Bay in composition, this could be a sign of ancient volcanic activity or a meteor impact. It may also indicate the presence of underground water in the past.
Scientists can learn a lot from rocks like St. Pauls Bay about the evolution of Mars. The formation of these rocks and their transportation to Mars reveal the complex interaction between geological forces, water and rock on Mars. This can be used to answer the question whether life could have existed in the past.
Perseverance’s rock samples collected from Witch Hazel Hill may contain fossilized microorganisms. NASA’s Mars Sample Return Mission, which is currently scheduled for the 2030s will collect these samples of rock and bring them back to Earth.
Damien Pine is an artist and former NASA Engineer. He writes as a freelancer. Writes about art, science, technology, and physics with an emphasis on making complex ideas more accessible. He holds a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Connecticut and gets excited whenever he spots a cat.
