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Opportunity's meteorite yields clues on Mars history DR EMILY BALDWIN ASTRONOMY NOW Posted: August 12, 2009 
New analysis conducted by Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity on a large meteorite that it discovered last month reveals more details on the red planet's environmental history. Last week we reported on the first analysis that Opportunity performed on the rock known as Block Island using its Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS), confirming the watermelon-sized boulder as an iron-nickel meteorite. Block Island is the largest meteorite known to have fallen on Mars, and scientists say that it is too massive to have hit the ground without disintegrating unless Mars' atmosphere was much thicker at the time the rock fell. A thicker atmosphere would have acted as a brake, slowing the meteoroid's descent before it struck the ground. 
This close up of Block Island was taken by Opportunity's panoramic camera. It is a false-colour, red-green-blue composite view generated from images taken through the Pancam's 750-nanometer, 530-nanometer and 430-nanometer filters. The exaggerated color is used for enhancing the visibility of differences among the types of rock and soil materials. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell University."Consideration of existing model results indicates a meteorite this size requires a thicker atmosphere," says rover team member Matt Golombek of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "Either Mars has hidden reserves of carbon dioxide ice that can supply large amounts of carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere during warm periods of more recent climate cycles, or Block Island fell billions of years ago." The microscopic imaging camera on the rover's arm also revealed a distinctive triangular pattern, identical to patterns common in iron-nickel meteorites found on Earth. "Normally this pattern is exposed when the meteorite is cut, polished and etched with acid," says Tim McCoy from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. "Sometimes it shows up on the surface of meteorites that have been eroded by windblown sand in deserts, and that appears to be what we see with Block Island." 
Microscopic imager view of Block Island showing the triangular pattern of small ridges seen at upper right in this image and elsewhere on the rock, characteristic of iron-nickel meteorites found on Earth. This image shows a patch 32 millimeters by 32 millimeters. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell University/USGS.Earlier measurements had already identified variations in the composition across the meteorite's surface that could result from interaction with the Martian environment, such as rusting of metals in the rock exposed to water. "We have lots of iron-nickel meteorites on Earth. We're using this meteorite as a way to study Mars," says Albert Yen, a rover team member at JPL. "Before we drive away from Block Island, we intend to examine more targets on this rock where the images show variations in color and texture. We're looking to see how extensively the rock surface has been altered, which helps us understand the history of the Martian climate since it fell." Once analysis of Block Island is complete, Opportunity will continue its journey to Endeavour Crater. |
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From tiny Mercury to distant Neptune and Pluto, The Planets profiles each of the Solar System's members in depth, featuring the latest imagery from space missions. The tallest mountains, the deepest canyons, the strongest winds, raging atmospheric storms, terrain studded with craters and vast worlds of ice are just some of the sights you'll see on this 100-page tour of the planets. 
Hubble Reborn takes the reader on a journey through the Universe with spectacular full-colour pictures of galaxies, nebulae, planets and stars as seen through Hubble's eyes, along the way telling the dramatic story of the space telescope, including interviews with key scientists and astronauts. 
Witness the most awesome sights of the Universe as they were meant to be seen in this 100-page extravaganza of planets, galaxies and star-scapes, all in 3D!