Tiny 'flower' formation spotted on Mars by Curiosity rover

By Ashley Strickland, CNN

Updated 4:50 AM ET, Thu March 3, 2022

The Curiosity rover discovered this rock, smaller than a penny, that resembles a flower or piece of coral within Gale Crater on February 24. The small pieces in this photo were created billions of years ago when minerals carried by water cemented the rock.
Photos: The best photos of Mars
The Curiosity rover discovered this rock, smaller than a penny, that resembles a flower or piece of coral within Gale Crater on February 24. The small pieces in this photo were created billions of years ago when minerals carried by water cemented the rock.
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NASA's Curiosity rover used two cameras to create this selfie in front of "Mont Mercou," a rock formation that stands 20 feet tall.
Photos: The best photos of Mars
NASA's Curiosity rover used two cameras to create this selfie in front of "Mont Mercou," a rock formation that stands 20 feet tall.
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The Ingenuity helicopter captured this color image of Mars from 16 feet above the planet's surface in April 2021. It's <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2021/04/23/world/mars-helicopter-color-image-third-flight-scn/index.html" target="_blank">the first color image</a> ever taken during flight by a rotorcraft on Mars.
Photos: The best photos of Mars
The Ingenuity helicopter captured this color image of Mars from 16 feet above the planet's surface in April 2021. It's the first color image ever taken during flight by a rotorcraft on Mars.
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This perspective of Mars' Valles Marineris hemisphere, from July 9, 2013, is actually a mosaic comprising 102 Viking Orbiter images. At the center is the Valles Marineris canyon system, over 2,000 kilometers long and up to 8 kilometers deep.
Photos: The best photos of Mars
This perspective of Mars' Valles Marineris hemisphere, from July 9, 2013, is actually a mosaic comprising 102 Viking Orbiter images. At the center is the Valles Marineris canyon system, over 2,000 kilometers long and up to 8 kilometers deep.
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This 2016 self-portrait of the Curiosity Mars rover shows the vehicle at the Quela drilling location in the Murray Buttes area on lower Mount Sharp.
Photos: The best photos of Mars
This 2016 self-portrait of the Curiosity Mars rover shows the vehicle at the Quela drilling location in the Murray Buttes area on lower Mount Sharp.
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This photo of a preserved river channel on Mars was taken by an orbiting satellite, with color overlaid to show different elevations. Blue is low and yellow is high.
Photos: The best photos of Mars
This photo of a preserved river channel on Mars was taken by an orbiting satellite, with color overlaid to show different elevations. Blue is low and yellow is high.
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The European Space Agency's Mars Express mission captured this 2018 image of the Korolev crater, more than 50 miles across and filled with water ice, near the north pole.
Photos: The best photos of Mars
The European Space Agency's Mars Express mission captured this 2018 image of the Korolev crater, more than 50 miles across and filled with water ice, near the north pole.
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The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter used its HiRISE camera to obtain this view of an area with unusual texture on the southern floor of Gale Crater.
Photos: The best photos of Mars
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter used its HiRISE camera to obtain this view of an area with unusual texture on the southern floor of Gale Crater.
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