Mars Meteorite Mystery: Perseverance Rover's Odd Discovery
On Mars, the Perseverance rover has stumbled upon something unusual. It's not from Mars at all. This rock, named Phippsaksla, is a meteorite that crashed into the red planet.
While other rovers have found meteorites before, this is Perseverance's first. It's a big deal because it might not be easy to find signs of life on Mars.
Exploring Mars Since 2021
Perseverance has been exploring Mars since early 2021. It's collected 30 out of 38 expected samples. Scientists were surprised it hadn't found any meteorites yet. So, this discovery is exciting.
The Meteorite: Phippsaksla
- Size: About 2.5 feet wide
- Appearance: Looks different from other rocks around it
- Composition: High nickel and iron content
Perseverance used its SuperCam laser to study the rock. The results showed that Phippsaksla is not from Mars. It came from somewhere else in our solar system.
Discovery and Announcement
The discovery was made in September 2025, but NASA only announced it in November 2025. This was due to a government shutdown.
Other rovers, like Curiosity, have also found meteorites on Mars. Now, Perseverance can add this to its list.
Why Meteorites Matter
Finding meteorites on Mars helps scientists:
- Understand the planet better
- Learn about our solar system
Meteorites can contain:
- Dust from before our solar system existed
- Materials that are billions of years old
Future Discoveries
Not everything on Mars is easy to identify. Perseverance has found other rocks that scientists don't fully understand yet. As rovers find more meteorites and interesting discoveries, scientists can use them to answer strange questions.
For now, NASA will study Phippsaksla to confirm it's a meteorite. They will also see what else they can learn from it.
