NASA ’s Curiosity rover is currently mount the slopes of Mount Sharp as it ventures to its next exploration web site . Earlier this hebdomad , the rover stumbled upon a diminutive metallic meteorite , which features some rather peculiar features .
Using the ChemCam Remote Micro - Imager , Curiosity fascinate a elaborate close - up shot of the object , which has been nickname “ Egg Rock . ” Researchers at Arizona State University propose the meteorite is made of nickel - iron . Though it looks like some kind of discarded alien artifact , this iron meteorite likely originated from the planetary core of a planetesimal . It likely came from the asteroid belt , which is just a rock ’s throw ( heh ) from Mars .
peculiarity has found meteorite on the Martian surface before , but this aim has some rather unique features . It ’s surface is remarkably smooth , looking as if someone buff it down with a shining kit . The rock also features several deep grooves , hinting at classic brave patterns , and possibly a sentence when the nut was mellow out hot .
As Deborah Byrdnotesin EarthSky , the surface of Mars is pepper with meteorite , so discovery like this are n’t all that uncommon . Meteorites can last for million of old age on the Red Planet , free from the oxidizing and weathering effects of wet and oxygen .
Given their metallic nature , these careen are particularly durable , and are more likely to survive atmospheric entrance than lesser - dense object . Mars has a particularly thin atmosphere , so these type of meteorites are scattered all around the Red Planet .
[ ASUviaEarthSky ]
curiosity roverMarsmeteoritesNASAScience
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