NASA Curiosity rover investigates shiny object on Mars

Authored by cnet.com and submitted by MaryADraper
image for NASA Curiosity rover investigates shiny object on Mars

Mars is a dusty place, so when something shiny shows up, it stands out. NASA's Curiosity team posted an update to its mission blog on Wednesday with a lovely look at a shiny lump sitting on the planet's surface.

The target of Curiosity's curiosity is nicknamed "Little Colonsay" and it looks like a small nugget. The rover's ChemCam captured a close-up view of the object on Monday.

"The planning team thinks it might be a meteorite because it is so shiny," writes Curiosity team member Susanne Schwenzer. "But looks can deceive, and proof will only come from the chemistry."

Curiosity's ChemCam is a suite of instruments that includes a camera, spectographs and a laser that helps NASA analyze the composition of Martian rocks and soil. The rover is scheduled to investigate Little Colonsay with the ChemCam to determine if it really is a meteorite.

NASA has spotted bright and shiny objects on Mars before. An odd bright piece seen by Curiosity in 2012 turned out to likely be a small plastic part from the rover. Another mystery particle from the same year was a little bit of Mars.

NASA identified a strange flake-like object as a piece of Martian rock earlier in 2018.

It won't be surprising if Little Colonsay turns out to be a meteorite. NASA's Opportunity rover found an iron meteorite on Mars back in 2008, the first time a meteorite of any type had been identified on another planet. Curiosity even found a jumbo specimen in 2014.

pm_me_ur_big_balls on November 30th, 2018 at 15:27 UTC »

The real discovery here is an OP who didn't exaggerate the title and even cautions us from drawing a conclusion.

YOU ARE A RARE GEM. Who are you and can you please start your own sub for reasonable reporting?

Uptown_NOLA on November 30th, 2018 at 15:00 UTC »

Human beings advance over ten millennia from hunter gatherers to space faring species. Reach other planets. Still enthralled by shiny objects. The more things change.....

joozek3000 on November 30th, 2018 at 13:31 UTC »

If this is gold First human will touch surface of Mars in 7 months;p