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Rocknest is a sand patch on the surface of Aeolis Palus, between Peace Vallis and Aeolis Mons ("Mount Sharp"), in Gale crater on the planet Mars. The patch was encountered by the Curiosity rover on the way from Bradbury Landing to Glenelg Intrigue on September 28, 2012. The "approximate" site coordinates are: .
The sand patch is downhill from a cluster of dark rocks. NASA determined the patch to be the location for the first use of the scoop on the arm of the Mars Curiosity rover.[1] The "Rocknest" patch is about 1.5 m (4.9 ft) by 5 m (16 ft).
On October 7, 2012, a mysterious "bright object" (image), discovered in the sand at Rocknest, drew scientific interest. Several close-up pictures (close-up 1) (close-up 2) were taken of the object and preliminary interpretations by scientists suggest the object to be "debris from the spacecraft".[2][3][4] Nonetheless, further images in the nearby sand have detected other "bright particles" (image) (close-up 1). These newly discovered objects are presently thought to be "native Martian material".[2][5][6]
On October 17, 2012 at "Rocknest", the first X-ray diffraction analysis of Martian soil was performed. The results from the rover's CheMin analyzer revealed the presence of several minerals, including feldspar, pyroxenes and olivine, and suggested that the Martian soil in the sample was similar to the "weathered basaltic soils" of Hawaiian volcanoes.[7]
On September 26, 2013, NASA scientists reported the Phoenix lander) suggesting a "global distribution of these salts".[13] NASA also reported that Jake M rock, a rock encountered by Curiosity on the way to Glenelg, was a mugearite and very similar to terrestrial mugearite rocks.[15]
Curiosity rover self-portrait on the planet Mars at "Rocknest" (October 31, 2012).
Curiosity rover wheel marks in the sand patch at the "Rocknest" site (October 3, 2012).
Sand on Mars - scoffmark made by the Curiosity rover (MAHLI, October 4, 2012).
First use of the Curiosity rover scooper as it sifts a load of sand at "Rocknest" (October 7, 2012).
Curiosity finds a "bright object" in the sand at "Rocknest" (October 7, 2012)[1] (close-up).
Curiosity rover scoop "bite marks" in the sand patch at the "Rocknest" site (October 15, 2012).
Curiosity rover scoop "soil sample" on "observation tray" at the "Rocknest" site (October 16, 2012).
Sand at "Rocknest" used for the first X-ray analysis of Martian soil (Curiosity rover, October 30, 2012)[2]
First X-ray view of Martian soil (Curiosity rover at "Rocknest", October 17, 2012).[2]
"Rocknest 3" rock - ChemCam and APSX target (Curiosity rover, October 5, 2012) (white-balanced image).
"Rocknest 3" rock - ChemCam and APSX target (Curiosity rover, October 3, 2012).
Solar System, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Oxygen, Mercury (planet), Moon
Dune, Weathering, Soil, Clay, Concrete
Mars, Curiosity (rover), Curiosity rover, Rocknest (Mars), Hue
Mars, Mars Science Laboratory, Aeolis Palus, Aeolis Mons, Water on Mars
Mars, Curiosity (rover), Aeolis Mons, Mars Science Laboratory, Nasa
Mars, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Gale (crater), Mars Pathfinder, Viking program
Mars, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Science Laboratory, 2001 Mars Odyssey, Nasa
Mars, Aeolis Mons, Curiosity rover, Mars Science Laboratory, Gale (crater)