Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2022 June 20
   [2]The featured image shows finger-like spires extending from a larger
   rock on Mars. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                            Rock Fingers on Mars
               Image Credit: [3]NASA, [4]JPL-Caltech, [5]MSSS

   Explanation: There, just right of center, what is that? The surface of
   Mars keeps revealing new [6]surprises with the recent discovery of
   finger-like rock spires. The small nearly-vertical rock outcrops were
   [7]imaged last month by the [8]robotic Curiosity rover on [9]Mars.
   Although similar in size and shape to small [10]snakes, the leading
   explanation for their origin is as conglomerations of small minerals
   left by water flowing through rock crevices. After [11]these relatively
   dense minerals filled the crevices, they were [12]left behind when the
   surrounding rock eroded away. Famous [13]rock outcrops on Earth with a
   similar origin are called [14]hoodoos. NASA's [15]Curiosity Rover
   continues to search for new signs of ancient water in [16]Gale Crater
   on Mars, while also providing a geologic background important for
   [17]future human exploration.

              Explore Your Universe: [18]Random APOD Generator
                        Tomorrow's picture: city suns
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    Authors & editors: [30]Robert Nemiroff ([31]MTU) & [32]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([33]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Phillip Newman [34]Specific rights apply.
              [35]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [36]ASD at [37]NASA / [38]GSFC
                           & [39]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2206/MarsFingers_Curiosity_1338.jpg
   3. https://www.nasa.gov/
   4. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
   5. https://www.msss.com/
   6. https://ptzgovorit.ru/sites/default/files/styles/700x400/public/original_nodes/udivlenie_8.jpg
   7. https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA25362
   8. https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/spacecraft/rover/summary/
   9. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/mars/in-depth/
  10. https://media1.dallasobserver.com/dal/imager/u/magnum/13398389/anil-sharma-f27znidt1l0-unsplash.jpg
  11. https://earthsky.org/space/curiosity-rover-gale-crater-mars-rock-spikes/
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220309.html
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080703.html
  14. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoodoo_(geology)
  15. https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission/science/goals/
  16. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/videos/a-guide-to-gale-crater
  17. https://blogs.nasa.gov/bridenstine/2020/07/20/human-exploration-of-mars-is-on-the-horizon/
  18. http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/random_apod.html
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220619.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  23. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  28. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=220620
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220621.html
  30. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  31. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  32. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  33. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  34. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  35. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  36. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  39. http://www.mtu.edu/