Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Perseverance Shares Westernmost Mars Selfie at Arethusa Outcrop

The images point to very old rocks with clues to how early Mars formed.

Overview

  • NASA, which published the composite on Tuesday, said the rover took the selfie on March 11 (Sol 1,797) during its deepest push west beyond Jezero Crater, with a fresh abrasion mark and the crater’s western rim in view.
  • The self‑portrait was stitched from 61 shots by the WATSON camera on the rover’s arm, a SHERLOC imager built by Malin Space Science Systems and operated with JPL.
  • A Mastcam‑Z panorama from April 5 (Sol 1,882) at the nearby “Arbot” site spans 46 frames in enhanced color and lays out diverse rock textures for targeted study.
  • After abrading the Arethusa rock, the team reported igneous minerals that likely predate Jezero’s formation, and the wider terrain may hold megabreccia, a possible volcanic dike, and impact‑altered rocks tied to Mars’ early crust.
  • Perseverance is working in the Northern Rim campaign within Lac de Charmes and has so far abraded 62 rocks, collected 27 cores, and driven almost 26 miles.