
It is “the size of a jam donut” . A stone mysteriously appeared on Mars, just outside the rover Opportunity, early January, told Discovery News Science news site (in English) , Friday, 17 January. Scientists, who thought they had seen everything in 10 years of exploration, are puzzled.
The discovery was announced by the head of the mission, Steve Squyres, during the anniversary of the landing Opportuny evening on the red planet, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). “It was a complete surprise, we said ‘wait, it was not there before this stone, there is a problem, ” says Steve Squyres.
How has this been able to reach the foot of the robot suddenly, when there is no wind on Mars? Researchers consider two options. Opportunity is moved the stone that was stuck in one of its wheels maneuvering, or the stone was thrown there by a meteorite impact.
“The stone was turned around, which means that we now see a face that has not seen the Martian atmosphere for billions of years, ” said Steve Squyres, who intends to study this mystery.
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