An Intriguing Mars Rock Discovered by NASA's Perseverance Rover | JPL

An Intriguing Mars Rock Discovered by NASA's Perseverance Rover | JPL

NASA’s Perseverance rover discovered “leopard spots” on a vein-filled, reddish rock nicknamed “Cheyava Falls” in Mars’ Jezero Crater during July 2024. Scientists think the spots may indicate that, billions of years ago, the chemical reactions in this rock could have supported microbial life; other explanations are being considered. 

Analysis by instruments aboard the rover indicates the rock possesses qualities that fit the definition of a possible indicator of ancient life. The rock exhibits chemical signatures and structures that could possibly have been formed by life billions of years ago when the area being explored by the rover contained running water.

The rock—the rover’s 22nd rock core sample—was collected on July 21, 2024, as the rover explored the northern edge of Neretva Vallis, an ancient river valley measuring a quarter-mile (400 meters) wide that was carved by water rushing into Jezero Crater long ago.

For more about NASA's Perseverance rover:

science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-2020-perseverance

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Duration: 1 minute 

Release Date: July 25, 2024

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