Discovery and Characteristics
The Perseverance rover discovered a skull-shaped rock formation, named "," on April 11 while traversing , highlighting its stark contrast to the surrounding light-colored, dusty terrain with its dark, angular appearance and tiny pits.
Scientists initially speculated the rock could be a meteorite due to its unique features but ruled this out after chemical analysis showed it lacked the high iron and nickel levels typical of space rocks.
Scientific Exploration and Theories
Theories about Skull Hill's origins include it being an igneous rock formed from cooled lava or magma, or a "float" rock transported from elsewhere due to natural events like erosion or impacts.
The ongoing analysis of Skull Hill aims to understand its composition and origin, contributing to the broader scientific mission to unravel Mars's geological history and assess its past habitability.