NASA Finds a Mars Rock That Doesn’t Belong — Scientists Say It May Be a Visitor From Beyond

The rock (pictured) was found in the Vernodden area of Jezero Crater.
- image source: nypost.com

“If this rock is deemed to be a meteorite, Perseverance can at long last add itself to the list of Mars rovers who have investigated the fragments of rocky visitors to Mars (pictured),” NASA wrote. NASA JPL / SWNS
- image source: nypost.com

NASA’s Perseverance rover has once again surprised researchers—this time with a rock that appears to have no business being on the Martian surface. While Mars is littered with stones of all shapes and sizes, this one stands out both in appearance and chemical makeup, raising the possibility that it arrived from far beyond the Red Planet.

A Strange Discovery in Jezero Crater

While exploring the Vernodden region of Mars’ 28-mile-wide Jezero Crater, Perseverance encountered a rock that immediately caught scientists’ attention. The stone, informally nicknamed Phippsaksla, measures about 31 inches across and differs sharply from the surrounding terrain. Unlike the flatter, fragmented rocks nearby, this one has a sculpted and elevated appearance—as if shaped by a different environment entirely.

NASA labeled it a target of special interest, and early inspections validated that instinct.

Clues Hidden in Its Metallic Heart

Using its onboard SuperCam instrument, the rover analyzed the rock’s chemical signature. The results revealed unusually high concentrations of iron and nickel—elements typically found in iron-nickel meteorites. These metallic bodies are believed to originate from the cores of ancient, shattered asteroids, forming when heavy minerals cooled and hardened billions of years ago.

Such a composition is rare for native Martian rocks, which tend to be volcanic or sedimentary. This strongly hints that Phippsaksla may be a leftover fragment from an incoming meteor that struck Mars at some point in the distant past.

Not the First, but Still a First for Perseverance

Iron-nickel meteorites have appeared on Mars before. A notable example is the Cacao meteorite spotted in 2023. However, this is the first time Perseverance itself has encountered such an object in its five years of roaming the planet’s surface.

More detailed tests will be needed to confirm the rock’s true identity, but if the interstellar origin theory holds, the stone could help scientists piece together both the history of Mars and the early Solar System.

A Rover With a History of Surprises

This isn’t the rover’s only intriguing find. Recently, Perseverance also identified a group of polka-dotted rocks that may offer evidence of ancient Martian life—one of the most compelling leads yet in humanity’s long search for extraterrestrial biology.

Conclusion

Discoveries like Phippsaksla remind us that Mars remains a world full of mysteries—some literally falling from the sky. Whether this unusual rock formed in the deep past of our Solar System or traveled across interplanetary space, it represents a physical storybook of cosmic history. As Perseverance continues its mission, each new finding deepens our understanding of how planets evolve, how meteorites shape worlds, and how connected the solar system truly is.
It’s a humbling reminder that even a single rock on a distant world can expand our imagination and bring us closer to understanding our place in the universe.

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