Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Nearing its fourth year of exploration, NASA’s Perseverance rover continues its mission to uncover signs of ancient microbial life on Mars. The rover has been collecting samples, analysing rock formations, and studying Martian landscapes to further our understanding of the Red Planet’s past.
In one of its latest activities, Perseverance captured a detailed nighttime mosaic image of an abrasion patch on a rock formation named “Malgosa Crest” within the “Serpentine Rapids” area. Using its SHERLOC WATSON camera, the image showed white, black, and greenish spots in the rock, intriguing scientists.
The greenish patches, typically found in Earth’s oxidized red rocks, raised questions. On Earth, similar hues emerge when water reacts with sediment, turning iron from its oxidized (red) state to a reduced (green) state, suggesting a possible history of water activity on Mars.
The abrasion patch, made by Perseverance on a Martian rock outcrop called “Wallace Butte,” measures around two inches across. Within this patch, a larger green spot about 0.08 inches in diameter was observed, adding a new mystery to Mars’s geological features.
Credit : NASA
On Earth, green spots in red rocks sometimes develop due to microbial activity or decaying organic matter that facilitates iron reduction, although purely chemical reactions can also produce the effect. Similar mechanisms are now being considered for the findings on Mars.
Due to safety constraints, Perseverance couldn’t get its SHERLOC and PIXL instruments close enough to the green spot for a thorough analysis, leaving scientists without specific data on the precise reactions that might have caused the color change.
Credit : NASA
While a closer examination of this green spot wasn’t possible, the Perseverance team hopes the rover will encounter similar formations in the future, allowing for a more detailed study of the chemical processes involved.
Perseverance is now preparing to climb the steep terrain of Jezero Crater’s rim, marking its departure from the crater where it has conducted the majority of its exploration over the past two years. This next phase may lead to more unique discoveries on the Martian surface.
Credit : ESA