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 August 31
   [2]The featured image shows an unusual and steep rock outcrop on Mars.
          Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                            Siccar Point on Mars
   Image Credit: [3]NASA/[4]JPL-Caltech/[5]MSSS; Processing & [6]License:
                              [7]Kevin M. Gill

   Explanation: What created this unusual hill on Mars? No one is sure. A
   good outlook to survey the surrounding area, [8]Siccar Point stands out
   from its surroundings in [9]Gale Crater. The unusual mound was visited
   by the robotic [10]Curiosity rover exploring [11]Mars late last year.
   [12]Siccar Point not only has a distinctive shape, it has dark rocks
   above lighter rocks. The apparent much younger age of the dark rocks
   indicates a time-break in the usual [13]geological ordering of rock
   layers -- by a process [14]yet unknown. The [15]Martian hill is named
   for [16]Siccar [17]Point on Earth, a place in [18]Scotland itself
   distinctive as a junction between two different rock layers.
   [19]Curiosity continues to explore [20]Gale crater on Mars, looking for
   clues of ancient life. Simultaneously, 2300 kilometers away, its sister
   [21]rover Perseverance explores [22]Jezero crater, there assisted by
   the [23]flight-capable scout [24]Ingenuity.

                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
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    Authors & editors: [36]Robert Nemiroff ([37]MTU) & [38]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([39]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Phillip Newman [40]Specific rights apply.
              [41]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [42]ASD at [43]NASA / [44]GSFC,
                         [45]NASA Science Activation
                           & [46]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2208/SiccarPoint_CuriosityGill_7640.jpg
   3. https://www.nasa.gov/
   4. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
   5. http://www.msss.com/
   6. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
   7. https://www.flickr.com/people/kevinmgill/
   8. https://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinmgill/51632892072
   9. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/videos/a-guide-to-gale-crater
  10. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mars-science-laboratory-curiosity-rover-msl
  11. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/mars/in-depth/
  12. https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasappere/51642208126/in/pool-apods/
  13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratigraphy
  14. https://cdn.britannica.com/40/230840-050-2676B617/Dog-listening-mutt.jpg
  15. https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission-updates/9061/sols-3276-3277-closest-approach-to-siccar-point/
  16. https://youtu.be/JCEDCcHcpYE
  17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siccar_Point
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap191029.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110729.html
  21. https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/
  22. https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/mission/science/landing-site/
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210420.html
  24. https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/#Quick-Facts
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220830.html
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  29. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  33. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  34. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=220831
  35. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220901.html
  36. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  37. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  38. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  39. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  40. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  42. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  43. https://www.nasa.gov/
  44. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  45. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  46. http://www.mtu.edu/