                        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 June 20

                            Rock Fingers on Mars
                    Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, MSSS

   Explanation: There, just right of center, what is that? The surface of
   Mars keeps revealing new surprises with the recent discovery of
   finger-like rock spires. The small nearly-vertical rock outcrops were
   imaged last month by the robotic Curiosity rover on Mars. Although
   similar in size and shape to small snakes, the leading explanation for
   their origin is as conglomerations of small minerals left by water
   flowing through rock crevices. After these relatively dense minerals
   filled the crevices, they were left behind when the surrounding rock
   eroded away. Famous rock outcrops on Earth with a similar origin are
   called hoodoos. NASA's Curiosity Rover continues to search for new
   signs of ancient water in Gale Crater on Mars, while also providing a
   geologic background important for future human exploration.

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