NASA’s Mars Rovers Are the leading Meteorite Hunters in the Solar System!

Tough to Find on Earth however Abundant on Mars?

NASA’s Mars Rovers have found some amazing meteorites. On Earth, the only human beings who are as excellent at finding meteorites are professional meteorite hunters as well as the researchers who search for meteorites in Antarctica. Are meteorites that plentiful on Mars or are these Rovers merely fortunate?

The response to this question has a great deal to do with the environment of the two planets. The surface of Earth has a setting that is rich in oxygen and also humidity – both of which are swiftly detrimental to iron meteorites.

A meteorite that befall Earth’s surface would certainly rust away in a flicker of geologic time. Mars, however, has considerably little oxygen as well as moisture in its atmosphere and also surface soils. Meteorites that arrive on Mars can stay in superb condition for millions – or even billions – of years. Mars is the perfect place for hunting meteorites.

What Do the Meteorites Reveal About Mars?

NASA researchers are captivated with the Mars meteorites due to the fact that they reveal intriguing information regarding the environment of Mars. For instance, the “Block Island” meteorite (portrayed) is far too large to have actually landed whole given the present thinness of the Martian atmosphere. A thicker atmosphere would certainly be needed to support its fall. With this information, researchers believe that the Block Island meteorite fell billions of years ago when the atmosphere of Mars was much thicker.

The Mars meteorites also show rather little surface change. This validates that the atmosphere and also surface soil of Mars contain quite a little wetness or free oxygen.

Block Island (false color)

A false-color image of the Martian meteorite labeled “Block Island.” This image was taken using the panoramic camera of NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity on July 28, 2009. The false-color improves the contrast of different sorts of soil and also meteorite material visible in the photo. Credit: NASA.

Egg Rock

On October 30, 2016, NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover found an iron-nickel meteorite around the dimension of a golf ball. It is a dark grey object with a submetallic radiance in the center of the image above. The rover group called the meteorite “Egg Rock” after a site in the state of Maine. It has to do with 6 centimeters long and 3 centimeters across. Credit: NASA.

Heat Shield Rock

“Heat Shield Rock” is the first meteorite ever before discovered externally on another planet. On January 6, 2005, NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity discovered a baseball-size iron-nickel meteorite. The Rover’s spectrophotometer validated its composition and identification as a meteorite – iron, and nickel mainly compose the “Heat Shield Rock”. The Meteoritical Society originally called it “Meridiani Planum” after it was discovered – this is the standard naming convention for meteorites discovered on Earth. Nevertheless, the name “Heat Shield Rock” has turned more prominent. It received that name because it was found near the area where Opportunity discarded its heat shield. For how long the meteorite has remained on the surface of Mars is unknown. However, it shows minimal indication of rusting or other change. Credit: NASA.

Shelter Island

NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity drove just 700 meters after finding the “Block Island” meteorite as well as detected another! On October 1, 2009, it took this photo of a meteorite that has actually been named “Shelter Island.” The pitted rock is roughly 47 centimeters long. Credit: NASA

Block Island

This is a picture of “Block Island,” the largest meteorite yet to be found on Mars. It is around 60 centimeters across (roughly 2 feet) and is estimated to weigh nearly one-half ton. Analysis of its combination by Rover Opportunity’s alpha bit X-ray spectrophotometer discloses that it is full of iron and nickel – evidence positive that it is an iron meteorite. This picture was taken by the navigation cam on NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity on July 28, 2009. The Mars Rover drove right past the rock, however, NASA researchers noticed it a couple of days later on in a photo that was taken and also transferred down-to-earth. So they sent out Opportunity back to have a look at the rock and also touch it with its robotic arm for an evaluation. Credit: NASA

Originally published on Geology.com. Read the original article.

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