                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2022 April 15

                        The Gator-back Rocks of Mars
                    Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, MSSS

   Explanation: Wind-sharpened rocks known as ventifacts, cover this broad
   sloping plain in the foot hills of Mount Sharp, Gale crater, Mars.
   Dubbed gator-back rocks their rugged, scaly appearance is captured in
   these digitally stitched Mastcam frames from the Curiosity rover on
   mission sol 3,415 (March 15, 2022). Driving over gator-back rocks
   before has resulted in damage to the rover's wheels, so Curiosity team
   members decided to turn around and take another path to continue the
   rover's climb. Curiosity has been on an ascent of Gale crater's central
   5.5 kilometer high mountain since 2014. As it climbs, it's been able to
   study layers shaped by water on Mars billions of years ago.

                   Tomorrow's picture: the pines of Orion
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                             & Michigan Tech. U.

