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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."

3 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Im no scientist by Gothmolly · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Less than you'd think - the biggest damage is not caused by the impact, but by the supersonic shock wave of superheated air preceding the meteor. In a thin atmosphere like Mars, there's a much less pronounced shock wave.

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    I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
  2. Re:Im no scientist by Alioth · · Score: 3, Interesting

    There probably is one, somewhere. This may be a smaller piece of a much larger impact - I'd expect bits of the meteorite to bounce and land some distance from the main impact site.

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  3. mars rover blog by Frogg · · Score: 4, Interesting

    here's a link to a blog by someone on the mars rover team:- Mars and Me

    ...fascinating stuff!! :)