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 March 8
The featured image shows Moon in inverted colors,
with the dark parts appearing bright, and the bright
parts appearing dark. More surface detail is visible.
Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

Moon in Inverted Colors
Image Credit & Copyright: Dawid Glawdzin

Which moon is this? The moon is in inverted colors. A false-color representation reminiscent of a black and white photographic negative has been created here. This is an inverted color image, where the moon's colors are overstated before they become real. The southern features are dominated by bright rays from the large crater Tycho and are followed by dark green lines from the impact site. Dark lunar mares are usually light and silvery. The image was taken in England. The eye can pick out faint details from the images recorded on photographic plates.

Tomorrow's picture: martian rock flower < | Archive | Submissions | Index | Search | Calendar | RSS | Education | About APOD | Discuss | >

Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.


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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 March 9
The featured image shows a penny-sized rock on Mars
discovered by the Curiosity Rover in late February 2022.
The rock is unusual because it has several appendages that
make it appear a bit like a flower. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

A Flower-Shaped Rock on Mars
Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, MSSS

It is one of the more unusual rocks on Mars. The rock is smaller than a penny and has appendages that make it look like a flower. It would be a major discovery if the rock was a flower, but there are less spectacular explanations for its unusual structure. One theory is that the rock is a type of concretion created by minerals deposited by water in cracks or divisions in existing rock. These concretions can be harder and denser than surrounding rock, and can remain even after the surrounding rock erodes away. Crystal clusters may be to blame for the flower structure. Blackthorn Salt is similar to previously imaged Martian pebbles. The image was taken by the rover on Mars. The data and images taken of the surprising Martian rocks will be studied by scientists.

Review: Last Year in Space Pictures
Tomorrow's picture: the toucan's star cluster

< | Archive | Submissions | Index | Search | Calendar | RSS | Education | About APOD | Discuss | >

Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.