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Another Martian Meteorite?
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Caption NASA:"NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity used its PanCam to capture this view of a dark rock that may be another Iron Meteorite. Part of the rim of Endeavour Crater is on the horizon (Nota Lunexit: nella caption NASA originale c'è scritto "Endurance Crater"! Una conferma ulteriore che i nostri Amici di Pasadena scrivono senza pensare e poi non rileggono quello che hanno scritto...).
The rock, about 45 cm (18") wide from this angle, was about 31 meters (102 feet) away from Opportunity when the Rover took this picture immediately after an 81-meter (266-foot) drive during the 2363rd Martian Day, or Sol, of the Rover's Mission on Mars.
The Rover Science Team has decided to approach the rock for a closer look, to determine whether it is an iron meteorite as suggested by the dark color, rounded texture and the way it is perched on the Surface.
The rock has been given the informal name "Oileán Ruaidh" (pronounced ay-lan ruah), which is the Gaelic name for an island off the coast of North-Western Ireland.
The Rim of Endeavor Crater, still several miles away, has been a long-term destination for Opportunity for about two years now. Opportunity landed on Mars in January 2004 for what was planned as a three-month mission".
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