Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2026 July 21
    [2]An orange landscape is seen with many darker rocks visible in the
    foreground. Toward the image top is a large rock outcrop with orange
   sand on top. The outcrop may appear to resemble a large turtle. Please
             see the explanation for more detailed information.

                             Turtle Rock on Mars
   Image Credit: [3]NASA/[4]JPL-Caltech/[5]MSSS; Processing & [6]License:
                            [7]Thomas Thomopoulos

   Explanation: Is this a fossilized turtle on Mars? No. Although
   [8]resembling a large [9]Earth tortoise, this is a layered rock outcrop
   on [10]Mars that is estimated to span about 15 meters, making it much
   larger than [11]turtles on Earth. NASA’s robotic [12]Curiosity rover
   came across [13]this unusual mound, dubbed Miraflores, last month
   during its 4922nd Martian day exploring Mars. The [14]small butte may
   survive because it was somehow more resistant to [15]erosion than
   surrounding rock. More recent wind has now covered its top with
   [16]orange [17]Martian sand. Below the top shell, many layers of
   [18]stratified rock are [19]visible, possibly indicating a long history
   of intermittent [20]wind-blown sand being deposited and then hardened
   by ground water. Similar wind-eroded layered landforms, such as
   [21]yardangs in the Qaidam Desert of [22]China, exist here on Earth.
   Curiosity and its companion [23]rover Perseverance continue to
   investigate the [24]ancient history of Mars as well as [25]searching
   for signs of [26]primeval life.

                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
     __________________________________________________________________

      [27]< | [28]Archive | [29]Submissions | [30]Index | [31]Search |
   [32]Calendar | [33]RSS | [34]Education | [35]About APOD | [36]Discuss |
                                    [37]>
     __________________________________________________________________

    Authors & editors: [38]Robert Nemiroff ([39]MTU) & [40]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([41]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [42]Specific rights apply.
            [43]NASA Web Privacy, [44]Accessibility, [45]Notices;
                A service of: [46]ASD at [47]NASA / [48]GSFC,
                         [49]NASA Science Activation
                           & [50]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2607/TurtleRock_Curiosity_2048.jpg
   3. https://www.nasa.gov/
   4. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
   5. http://www.msss.com/
   6. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
   7. https://www.flickr.com/people/195227719@N04/
   8. https://x.com/SETIInstitute/status/2067261424447942819
   9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortoise#/media/File:A._gigantea_Aldabra_Giant_Tortoise.jpg
  10. https://science.nasa.gov/mars/
  11. https://www.doi.gov/blog/13-turtle-ly-awesome-photos-world-turtle-day
  12. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/msl-curiosity/
  13. https://science.nasa.gov/blog/curiosity-blog-sols-4920-4926-surveying-the-bands/
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap161005.html
  15. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/erosion/
  16. https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/goddard/nasa-new-study-on-why-mars-is-red-supports-potentially-habitable-past/
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210106.html
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratigraphy
  19. https://www.flickr.com/photos/195227719@N04/55331982898/in/pool-apods/
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090420.html
  21. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yardang#/media/File:Yardangs_in_the_Tsaidam_Desert.jpg
  22. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China
  23. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-2020-perseverance/
  24. https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11372
  25. https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/cat-seeking-food-dumpster-260nw-376709143.jpg
  26. https://science.nasa.gov/blog/was-there-life-on-mars/
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260720.html
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  31. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  33. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  34. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  35. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  36. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260721
  37. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260722.html
  38. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/department/faculty/nemiroff/
  39. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/
  40. https://inspirehep.net/authors/1073087
  41. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  42. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  43. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  44. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  45. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  46. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/astrophysics/
  47. https://www.nasa.gov/
  48. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  49. https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/
  50. http://www.mtu.edu/