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Martian Lizard, Strange And Shiny Rocks: NASA Explains

Wednesday, February 13, 2013 18:10
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(Before It's News)

 

 

 
On Mars, as on Earth, sometimes things can take on an unusual appearance. A case in point is a shiny-looking rock seen in a recent image from NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover. 

 
A shiny-looking Martian rock is visible in this image taken by NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity’s Mast Camera (Mastcam) during the mission’s 173rd Martian day, or sol (Jan. 30, 2013).
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Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems

Some casual observers might see a resemblance to a car door handle, hood ornament or some other type of metallic object. To Ronald Sletten of the University of Washington, Seattle, a collaborator on Curiosity’s science team, the object is an interesting study in how wind and the natural elements cause erosion and other effects on various types of rocks. 

Find out what likely caused the shiny appearance of the Martian rock, and see some examples of similar phenomena found on Earth.

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This strange rock was interpreted by some as a strange reptilian form.  
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  • The rock was polished smooth and shiny by the wind. Oh, okay. The only “rock” like that in the entire area. I’m not a “scientist”, but I’m not stupid either. Those nerds can’t even make up a good lie. If you sharpen the picture, whatever that is looks like a lizard and that it has legs.

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