This image was taken by Curiosity's rover on sol 3190 or for Earthlings, Jul 27, 2021. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL)It's a lizard and a cat. It's also a Martian rock with whimsical Martian characters!This adorable rock feature was discovered by the Mars Curiosity Rover in Gale Crater. The rover has been there since 2012. Although the tiny, textured arch measures only 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) in height, mission scientists were excited by its unique shape.Abigail Fraeman, planetary geologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, wrote that "I am still dazzled" by the textures being observed.Similar: Seeking things on Mars: A history and explanation of Martian illusionsThe arch is textured and sits at Mount Sharp's base. This peak rises 3.4 miles (5 km) above the Gale Crater floor. Fraeman says that Curiosity is studying interesting geology at the transition of clay-heavy layers to sulfate rich layers within mountain's rocks. These sulfate-bearing layers may reveal more about Mars’ wet past, as they can be dissolved by water.Curiosity was originally designed to travel two years on Mars. However, the robot-sized SUV has been cruising around Gale Crater for nine year, taking selfies and making scientific discoveries. Scientists analyzing Curiosity's data discovered that the clays in Gale Crater were less stable than originally thought. This means that there may have been evidence of microbial activity in the area. Scientists are optimistic about finding Martian fossils if they do exist, as the brines used to erase the data might also have supported new life below the surface.Now, the rover is moving up Mount Sharp. It stops along the way to take photos and analyze rock composition using ChemCam. This instrument uses lasers to vaporize small bits of rock and then measures the chemical and mineral content.Original publication on Live Science
