This illustration illustrates NASAs Perseverance rover operating on the surface of Mars. Credit: NASA
We made it! Determination is at the delta, and showering us with extraordinary images to pore over.
Mars 2020 is officially out of “Rapid Traverse” mode, where we put the pedal to the metal and focused on driving rapidly. We havent left the Crater Floor Campaign absolutely behind us however, as well investigate the contact between the rocks of the crater floor and those that make up the delta, as well as in between various types of crater flooring rocks calledM áaz andS éítah..
Geologists can find out a lot about the course of events by looking at contacts, which are the limits between various kinds of rocks. Was the transition from one type of rock to another abrupt or gradual? Is the contact indicative of a modification in the environment or how the rocks were deposited? Existed an extended period of time between the different kinds of rocks? All of these are concerns that we can look into at contacts, and they will help us better comprehend the history of Jezero crater.
Mars Perseverance Sol 411– Left Mastcam-Z Camera: This image, caught by the Mastcam-Z instrument, is part of a mosaic obtained of the delta front. The geometry of the layers and size of the grains that make up these rocks can inform us about the history of the delta.
Analyzing rover data is one method we find out about Mars geologic past, but planetary geologists can also study “terrestrial analogs.” These are places on Earth where we can make valuable contrasts to what we see on other planetary bodies, such as Mars, to help us comprehend their landscapes. Ive enjoyed hearing comparisons between Jezero and Earth from members of our Science Team; most recently we discussed how the Jezero delta sediments might be comparable to those in Greece. As a British-Greek member of the team, I used to drive through the Gulf of Corinth each summer season to visit family in Ακράτα (Akrata). Little did I understand that I was looking out the window at a terrific analog for some of the deltaic features were seeing in Jezero today!
Mars Perseverance Sol 409– Left Mastcam-Z Camera: The Mastcam-Z instrument snapped this close up of Kodiak, a residue from when the delta was more substantial. The Mars 2020 group has had eyes on Kodiak considering that last year, but now we can see details that werent previously visible. This raw image has actually been extended to much better emphasize features in the middle of the image. This image was obtained on April 14, 2022 (Sol 409) at the regional mean solar time of 10:06:40. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU.
Over the next couple of months, well utilize the whole suite of Perseverance instruments to check out the delta. We expect to discover rocks that will be rather various from the igneous rocks (meaning they formed from lava or lava) of the crater flooring. Throughout that exploration, we will also take samples of a few of the most astrobiologically appealing and interesting rocks. I cant wait to see what Perseverance will find!
Composed by Eleni Ravanis, Student Collaborator at University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa.
We have not left the Crater Floor Campaign completely behind us however, as well examine the contact in between the rocks of the crater floor and those that make up the delta, as well as in between different types of crater flooring rocks namedM áaz andS éítah..
Mars Perseverance Sol 411– Left Mastcam-Z Camera: This image, caught by the Mastcam-Z instrument, is part of a mosaic obtained of the delta front. The geometry of the layers and size of the grains that make up these rocks can inform us about the history of the delta. Mars Perseverance Sol 409– Left Mastcam-Z Camera: The Mastcam-Z instrument snapped this close up of Kodiak, a remnant from when the delta was more substantial. We anticipate to find rocks that will be rather various from the igneous rocks (meaning they formed from magma or lava) of the crater floor.