Posted on Mar 9, 2022
APOD: 2022 March 9 - A Flower Shaped Rock on Mars
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Good morning, Rallypoint, and welcome to the March 9th Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD): "A Flower Shaped Rock on Mars." While Perseverance and Ingenuity have captured most of the recent headlines, Curiousity is also still active on the Martian surface. The "rock" in today's image (taken in February 2022) is smaller than a penny, and has been given the name "Blackthorn Salt." While it does resemble a flower, we are likely looking at a crystal cluster or concreted sediments remaining after the surrounding rock had eroded away. Regardless, it is pretty. Almost like a candle in a dark room.
APOD: 2022 March 9 - A Flower Shaped Rock on Mars
Posted from apod.nasa.gov
NASA
Space
Science
Photography
Astronomy
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 4
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Thank you my space-exploration advocate friend Maj William W. 'Bill' Price for posting the March 9th Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD): 'A Flower Shaped Rock on Mars’
Image: A Flower Shaped Rock on Mars
This may be an answer to the old song question, where have all the flowers gone
PETE SEEGER ⑪ Where Have All The Flowers Gone (Live in Sweden 1968)
https://youtu.be/PS3-lyqCl80?t=83
APOD Background: Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, MSSS
Explanation: It is one of the more unusual rocks yet found on Mars. Smaller than a penny, the rock has several appendages that make it look, to some, like a flower. Although it would be a major discovery if the rock was truly a fossilized ancient Martian flower, there are less spectacular -- and currently preferred -- explanations for its unusual structure. One theory that has emerged is that the rock is a type of concretion created by minerals deposited by water in cracks or divisions in existing rock. These concretions can be compacted together, can be harder and denser than surrounding rock, and can remain even after the surrounding rock erodes away. The flower structure may also be caused by crystal clusters. The small rock, named Blackthorn Salt, has similarities to previously imaged Martian pebbles. The featured image was taken by the Curiosity rover on Mars in late February. Scientists will continue to study data and images taken of this -- and similar -- surprising Martian rocks."
FYI SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel CPL Douglas Chrysler PO3 Edward Riddle SGT Mary G. SGT Tiffanie G. MSgt Gloria Vance SSG Michael Noll SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D CSM Charles Hayden GySgt Jack Wallace1SG Dan CapriMaj Kim Patterson CSM Bob Stanek SGM Bill Frazer GySgt Gary Cordeiro
Image: A Flower Shaped Rock on Mars
This may be an answer to the old song question, where have all the flowers gone
PETE SEEGER ⑪ Where Have All The Flowers Gone (Live in Sweden 1968)
https://youtu.be/PS3-lyqCl80?t=83
APOD Background: Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, MSSS
Explanation: It is one of the more unusual rocks yet found on Mars. Smaller than a penny, the rock has several appendages that make it look, to some, like a flower. Although it would be a major discovery if the rock was truly a fossilized ancient Martian flower, there are less spectacular -- and currently preferred -- explanations for its unusual structure. One theory that has emerged is that the rock is a type of concretion created by minerals deposited by water in cracks or divisions in existing rock. These concretions can be compacted together, can be harder and denser than surrounding rock, and can remain even after the surrounding rock erodes away. The flower structure may also be caused by crystal clusters. The small rock, named Blackthorn Salt, has similarities to previously imaged Martian pebbles. The featured image was taken by the Curiosity rover on Mars in late February. Scientists will continue to study data and images taken of this -- and similar -- surprising Martian rocks."
FYI SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel CPL Douglas Chrysler PO3 Edward Riddle SGT Mary G. SGT Tiffanie G. MSgt Gloria Vance SSG Michael Noll SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D CSM Charles Hayden GySgt Jack Wallace1SG Dan CapriMaj Kim Patterson CSM Bob Stanek SGM Bill Frazer GySgt Gary Cordeiro
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LTC Stephen F.
An alternate theory is these flower shaped rocks are actually part of a rock candy mountain :=-)
BIG ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjNfmKwBEMY
FYI Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Lt Col Charlie Brown CW5 Jack Cardwell Maj Kim Patterson CPT Richard Trione CSM Charles Hayden 1SG Steven Imerman SMSgt David A AsburyPO1 Robert George SGT James Murphy SGT Charlie Lee SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Danny Justice Sgt David G Duchesneau SSgt (Join to see) SFC Terry Wilcox SFC John Lich SFC George Smith SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
BIG ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjNfmKwBEMY
FYI Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Lt Col Charlie Brown CW5 Jack Cardwell Maj Kim Patterson CPT Richard Trione CSM Charles Hayden 1SG Steven Imerman SMSgt David A AsburyPO1 Robert George SGT James Murphy SGT Charlie Lee SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Danny Justice Sgt David G Duchesneau SSgt (Join to see) SFC Terry Wilcox SFC John Lich SFC George Smith SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
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PO3 Edward Riddle
Thank You Brother Steve for the info and the music. I guess we will never know exactly what this flower is.
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Thank you, Maj William W. 'Bill' Price for this amazing image of a flower shaped rock, be it smaller than a penny... it is still something worthy of note as it indicates that there is a form of life to the planet although not of a biological nature... Great Share, Bill!
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Maj William W. 'Bill' Price
Thank you for chiming in PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln. I can certainly see your point. Here's what PO2 Lincoln is talking about:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulgurite
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulgurite
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SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D
Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Seems like the compositions of the two compare somewhat favorably.
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PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln
Maj William W. 'Bill' Price - I have been fascinated with fulgurites for years, I first heard of them in a movie staring Reese Witherspoon, one of the characters actually used metal rods driven into a sandy beach to make them.
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