APOD: 2021 August 28

Astronomy Picture Of The Day Explore the cosmos Every day, a new image or photograph of the fascinating universe is presented along with a short explanation by an astronomer. 2021 August 28


Mars Rock Rochette

Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech

Explanation: This sharp image taken on mission sol 180 (August 22, 2018) shows the Perseverance Rover's Hazard Camera. It looks across a rock-strewn floor at Jezero crater, Mars. One of the front wheels that can be steered by the rover is located at the lower left. It measures 52.5 cm (21 inches) in size. Near the center is Rochette, a large rock. Rochette is not something mission planners want to avoid. Perseverance will instead be told to reach out with its 2-meter-long robotic arm to remove the rock's surface. This is to determine if the rock has the consistency to allow for the collection of a sample slightly thicker than a pencil using the coring bit. Perseverance will return samples collected to Earth via a future Mars mission.