
NASA's Curiosity Mars rover spotted these finger-like rocks with its Mast Camera, or Mastcam, on May 15, 2022, the 3,474th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. These likely formed as groundwater trickled through rock in the ancient past, depositing mineral cements over time; many years later, when the rock was exposed to the atmosphere, wind eroded the softer material around the cemented portions. The rocks were found on Mount Sharp, the 3-mile-tall (5-kilometer-tall) mountain that Curiosity has been climbing since 2014. https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA25362
Most NASA images are in the public domain and free to use. Credit NASA as the source. Check NASA's media usage guidelines for details. Images featuring identifiable individuals may require additional permissions.
NASA ID
PIA25362
Date Created
June 15, 2022
Center
JPL
Media Type
image
Download this image in multiple resolutions. All NASA media are free for public use.
960px