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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Tisdale 2 Rock Formation on Mars
NASA ^ | September 12, 2011 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 09/12/2011 12:16:48 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

Explanation: Why does this Martian rock have so much zinc? Roughly the size and shape of a tilted coffee-table, this oddly flat, light-topped rock outcropping was chanced upon a few weeks ago by the robotic Opportunity rover currently rolling across Mars. Early last month Opportunity reached Endeavour crater, the largest surface feature it has ever encountered, and is now exploring Endeavour's rim for clues about how wet Mars was billions of years ago. Pictured above and named Tisdale 2, the unusual rock structure was probed by Opportunity last week and is now thought to be a remnant thrown off during the impact that created nearby Odyssey crater. The resulting chemical analysis of Tisdale 2, however, has shown it to have a strangely high amount of the element zinc. The reason for this is currently unknown, but might turn out to be a clue to the history of the entire region. Opportunity is already finding rocks older than any previously studied and will continue to explore several other intriguing rock formations only now glimpsed from a distance.

September 12, 2011

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; mars; science; zinc
[Credit: Mars Exploration Rover Mission, Cornell, JPL, NASA]

1 posted on 09/12/2011 12:16:59 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...

2 posted on 09/12/2011 12:18:16 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (It's never a bad time to FReep this link -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv
Because the zinc is harder than the rock around it,
3 posted on 09/12/2011 12:55:36 AM PDT by Domangart
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To: Domangart

Hmmmm... I vill haf to zinc about zat....


4 posted on 09/12/2011 1:06:49 AM PDT by Ronin (Obamanation has replaced Bizarroworld as the most twisted place in the universe.)
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To: SunkenCiv

An alien space craft threw out everything including the kitchen zinc.


5 posted on 09/12/2011 2:10:16 AM PDT by count-your-change (You don't have be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Zinc?

It rubbed of the nose of the “Cydonia Face” guy.

He was a lifeguard.


6 posted on 09/12/2011 2:56:20 AM PDT by shibumi (Goi! Rode, Goi!)
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To: SunkenCiv

However the zinc got there, there is one thing you can be sure of:

It is absolute proof of Anthropomorphic Global Warming here on earth.

(Everything is.)


7 posted on 09/12/2011 4:19:23 AM PDT by samtheman (Palin. In your heart you know she's right.)
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To: SunkenCiv

I’d hardly call “High School Musical,” “rock.”

(Ashley Tisdale joke.)


8 posted on 09/12/2011 4:46:14 AM PDT by dangus
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To: SunkenCiv

It has the general shape of a Nimitz class aircraft carrier flight deck. Hmmm...


9 posted on 09/12/2011 5:36:49 AM PDT by CPOSharky (The only thing straight, white, Christian males get is the blame for everything.)
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To: SunkenCiv
Why does this Martian rock have so much zinc?

Bush's Fault

10 posted on 09/12/2011 5:44:41 AM PDT by JRios1968 (I'm guttery and trashy, with a hint of lemon. - Laz)
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To: SunkenCiv
Ancient Martian landfill. The ancient Martians were crazy about this stuff:


11 posted on 09/13/2011 5:31:55 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: colorado tanker

:’)


12 posted on 09/14/2011 3:32:48 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (It's never a bad time to FReep this link -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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