Examining 'Marquette Island'

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity used the wire brush of its rock abrasion tool during the rover's 2,070th Martian day, or sol (Nov. 19, 2009), to scour dust from a circular target area on a rock called "Marquette Island." The brushed target area, called "Peck Bay," is visible as a dark circle about 5 centimeters (2 inches) in diameter just below the tool turret at the end of the rover's robotic arm in this image. The image was taken later the same sol by the rover's front hazard-avoidance camera.

Opportunity is performing an extensive analysis of this rock, which initial investigation suggests may be a stony meteorite.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

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