A photo from open sources
Opportunity Mars Rover Science Team Leader Steve Squires recognized the so-called “wandering stone” discovered on the surface of Mars, a phenomenon whose explanation scientists find find it difficult. Squires said this at a press conference, dedicated to the decade since the start of the rover. By his According to scientists, the spectrometric analysis of the stone. It turned out, that the breed contains a large amount of sulfur and magnesium. Moreover, the manganese content in the stone was twice as high as in any another famous Martian breed. According to Squires, his team does not understand what this can mean. Now scientists consider two versions explaining the unexpected appearance of the stone next to the rover. According to one of them, a stone appeared next to rover as a result of meteor shower. Nevertheless, such scientists themselves consider the scenario unlikely. Second Squires called the version more believable. According to him, the rover could accidentally hook a stone with a wheel, break it and drag along. At the same time, it is known that the stone appeared in front of the rover at a time when he was standing on one place without any movement. Wandering Stone was in January 2014 was discovered on images taken by the Opportunity rover. So, it turned out that he was absent from photographs for the 3536th Martian day, but already on the 3537th Martian day he is on them appears. One side of the stone is covered with Martian dust, and the second It looks dark, but with light spots. Mars rover Opportunity works on Mars since January 2004. Expected to expire him work will not exceed three months, but the rover is functioning still. Moreover, simultaneously with it on the surface of the planet works more modern Curiosity rover. Moreover, shortly before Opportunity, the Spirit rover was delivered to Mars, but a few years later he was lost.
Mars Stones
