After spending several months roaming the surface of Mars, also known as the “Red Planet,” the car-sized Mars rover Perseverance has discovered a group of rocks with a “popcorn-like texture.”
The popcorn-like shape of the rocks is significant because it suggests that groundwater flowed beneath them after they were laid down, which is a very exciting clue about former life on Mars.
These images were taken using Perseverance's right Mastcam-Z camera, one of a pair of cameras mounted high up on the rover's mast.
The Multicolor Stereo Imaging System mounted on the rover can zoom from an f/7 wide-angle to an f/10 telephoto lens, take 3D images and video, and take photos in 11 unique colors. It captures 1600 x 1200 images, has a 26-110 mm zoom range, and has a 360° panoramic view as well as a 180° vertical view.
The Mars rover, affectionately known as Percy, was launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. To show NASA's appreciation to healthcare workers, a 3.1 x 5.1-inch plate depicting a staff and serpent (the Greek symbol for medicine) was mounted on the rover.
Perseverance has been orbiting the surface of Mars since January and has now finally arrived at a new region called Bright Angel — so named because of the light-colored areas of ancient rocks that were once covered by rivers.
According to NASA, scientists were “enchanted by the strange textures of the rocks found there,” adding:
The best camera deals, reviews, product advice, and unforgettable photography news, straight to your inbox!
“These rocks are full of sharp ridges that resemble the mineral veins found at the base of a fan, but there seem to be more of them here. In addition, some of the rocks are densely dotted with tiny spheres, and we jokingly called this a 'popcorn' texture.”
Check out our guides to the best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography. We also have all the information on the best low light cameras.
