The strange discovery

As though it was strange, but the rover Opportunity, which stands on the same spot without moving for almost a month, "crawling" stone ... Yes, yes, you heard right ...




At the 3536 Salt it was not, but in 3537 he was already salts is in a prominent position.



It can be seen that one side had a "fresh", are not covered with dust, some shiny white mineral. Opportunity took it off his makrokameroy so mysterious visitor can consider in detail:



On the other side a stone in the Martian dust, so before us is not a meteorite. At least not one that fell a few days ago. The cameras on the rover 3516 Salt removed the surface of Mars, where the stone could be knock over, while driving Opportunity.



But why is it suddenly moved a month later - a mystery. Important note: the rover did not move all the time, not even spinning in place. You can even compare images "sundial" for 3516 and 3540 Sola:

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These days only worked manipulator. Most likely, after the stone was knock over, he lay somewhere under the body, not getting into the camera lens, and on the 3537 Salt hooked his "hand" rover and thrown forward.
Another mystery - interior color of the stone. In addition to the white pieces, he observed and very dark areas, almost as black as coal .... For the formation of coal required vegetation that is extremely unlikely to Mars, but the jet black color is characteristic of the so-called "Carbonaceous meteorites." For these meteorites is characterized by a high carbon content, and in particular, hydrocarbons that with such zeal is now looking Curiosity, in the other hemisphere of Mars.

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