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Possible Meteorite Imaged By Opportunity Rover

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the marvin-is-right-behind-it dept.

Matt_dk writes "The Opportunity rover has eyed an odd-shaped, dark rock, about 0.6 meters (2 feet) across on the surface of Mars, which may be a meteorite. The team spotted the rock called 'Block Island,' on July 18, 2009, in the opposite direction from which it was driving. The rover then backtracked some 250 meters (820 feet) to study it closer. Scientists will be testing the rock with the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer to get composition measurements and to confirm if indeed it is a meteorite."

4 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Im no scientist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Well, in the picture there's no crater at all. The thing is sitting on the surface. That's certainly "less than I'd think".

  2. all this story made me thing of was by circletimessquare · · Score: 3, Informative

    mmm... block island

    salt water taffy, clams, lobster...

    http://www.blockislandguide.com/cuisine.html

    sorry, its 11:52 am right now on the east coast

    time to go to lunch i think

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  3. Re:Odd Shaped Rock? by GodfatherofSoul · · Score: 4, Informative

    Odd==not eroded according to the geology and climate of Mars.

    --
    I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
  4. 7th meteorite found by rovers by peter303 · · Score: 2, Informative

    The first one found in 2005 made big news. Since then there have been seven more suspected.