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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Leopard Spots on Martian Rocks
NASA ^
| 28 Sep, 2025
| Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, MSSS, Perseverance Rover
Posted on 09/28/2025 12:08:02 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: What is creating these unusual spots? Light-colored spots on Martian rocks, each surrounded by a dark border, were discovered last year by NASA's Perseverance Rover currently exploring Mars. Dubbed leopard spots because of their seemingly similarity to markings on famous Earth-bound predators, these curious patterns are being studied with the possibility they were created by ancient Martian life. The pictured spots measure only millimeters across and were discovered on a larger rock named Cheyava Falls. The exciting but unproven speculation is that long ago, microbes generated energy with chemical reactions that turned rock from red to white while leaving a dark biosignature ring, like some similarly appearing spots on Earth rocks. Although other non-biological explanations have not been ruled out, speculation focusing on this potential biological origin is causing much intrigue.
TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa
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To: MtnClimber
2
posted on
09/28/2025 12:08:28 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
To: MtnClimber
3
posted on
09/28/2025 12:08:52 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list
đȘ đ đ đ
4
posted on
09/28/2025 12:09:47 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
To: MtnClimber
That’s rust - don’t they know rust never sleeps??
5
posted on
09/28/2025 12:15:35 PM PDT
by
Ken522
To: MtnClimber
Fascinating. Are these like Martian fossils?
6
posted on
09/28/2025 12:16:36 PM PDT
by
Kudsman
(Emulate Charlie, not the left.)
To: MtnClimber
7
posted on
09/28/2025 12:22:10 PM PDT
by
No name given
( Anonymous is who youâll know me as )
To: MtnClimber
8
posted on
09/28/2025 12:22:22 PM PDT
by
No name given
( Anonymous is who youâll know me as )
To: MtnClimber
9
posted on
09/28/2025 12:28:22 PM PDT
by
smokingfrog
( sleep with one eye open (<o> --- )
To: MtnClimber
My guess is itâs the migration of elements during the solidification process much like a eutectic forms in the iron/carbon alloy.
10
posted on
09/28/2025 12:30:35 PM PDT
by
NavyShoe
To: MtnClimber
“Dubbed leopard spots because of their seemingly similarity to markings on famous Earth-bound predators,”
Proof the leopards beat us to Mars. They’re not as Earth bound as we thought.
11
posted on
09/28/2025 12:30:43 PM PDT
by
Brooklyn Attitude
(The DemocRATic party is a treasonous America hating cult.)
To: MtnClimber
Look for several democRATS to ask just how the leopards managed to travel to Mars. Also, did any of the leopards plant the American flag on Mars?
To: Brooklyn Attitude
The leaping ability of leopards is underestimated. You should notice that they are not finding donkey dung.
13
posted on
09/28/2025 12:45:02 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
To: MtnClimber
The heartbreak of psoriasis?
14
posted on
09/28/2025 1:00:07 PM PDT
by
AFB-XYZ
(( We have two options: 1. Stand up, or 2. Bend over))
To: MtnClimber
Some Windex will clean that right up. Next rover needs a scrub brush attachment.
15
posted on
09/28/2025 1:32:34 PM PDT
by
fruser1
To: MtnClimber
It looks like mold to me. That would be incredible if it was.
16
posted on
09/28/2025 1:49:08 PM PDT
by
telescope115
(Ad Astra, Ad DeumâŠ)
To: MtnClimber
It looks like mold to me.
17
posted on
09/28/2025 1:49:29 PM PDT
by
telescope115
(Ad Astra, Ad DeumâŠ)
To: MtnClimber
It looks like mold to me.
18
posted on
09/28/2025 1:49:34 PM PDT
by
telescope115
(Ad Astra, Ad DeumâŠ)
To: telescope115
Sorry. I donât know what happened. Blame it on the MartiansâŠ.
19
posted on
09/28/2025 1:50:48 PM PDT
by
telescope115
(Ad Astra, Ad DeumâŠ)
To: telescope115
Sorry. I donât know what happened. Blame it on the MartiansâŠ.
20
posted on
09/28/2025 1:50:51 PM PDT
by
telescope115
(Ad Astra, Ad DeumâŠ)
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