Posted on 12/13/2014 5:44:56 AM PST by SunkenCiv
Explanation: This extreme close-up, a mosaic from the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) on the Curiosity rover, spans a breathtaking 5 centimeters. It captures what appear to be elongated crystal shapes formed by the precipitation of minerals dissolved in water, a likely result of the evaporation of ancient lake or river from the Martian surface. Brushed by a dust removal tool and illuminated by white LEDs, the target rock named Mojave was found on the Pink Cliffs outcrop of the Pahrump Hills at the base of Mount Sharp. The MAHLI images were acquired on Curiosity's sol 809, known on planet Earth as November 15, 2014. Of course, the inset 1909 Lincoln Cent image is provided for a comparison scale. Covered with Mars dust itself, the penny is a MAHLI calibration target attached to the rover.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, MSSS]
There’s actually a 1909 penny attached to the rover for video calibration? hah!
There is said 1909 penny attached...
Geepers, Mr. Wilson!
I remember having “the nickel tour”, but i didn’t know times were so hard, that we now get THE ONE RED CENT TOUR!!!
A crystalline formation from a former fluid deposit on a planet that is said to be waterless is a very good find.
A US Penny on Mars. They are truly everywhere.
I hope they didn’t use a 1909 S VDB.
That would be one VERY expensive centimeter measure, certainly.
“The 1909 S VDB Lincoln penny is one of the rarest and most sought after
U.S. coins. Even worn and damaged 1909 VDB pennies have some value.”
Great picture! Great APOD.
Thank you, Mr. Civ.
The regular 1909s, not so rare. You can even find them on Mars.
LOL! Obviously. ;-)
Forty years ago, my late older sister had rolls of 1909 pennies. She and her hubby searched for years for the S VDB, but they never found one.
I think they made less than 500,000 S VDBs. When my brother and I collected coins many years ago, it was the Holy Grail. We never came close to getting one.
So, no luck for you or your brother, either. Sigh...
Fewer than 500,000 in a population of 300,000,000 would give you about a .0016% chance of finding an S VDB.
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