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Barnacle Bill (Mars)
Encyclopedia
Barnacle Bill is a 40 centimetres (15.7 in) rock on Mars
in Ares Vallis
. It was the first rock on Mars analyzed by the Sojourner rover using its Alpha Proton X-ray Spectrometer
. The encounter occurred during Sol 3 of the Mars Pathfinder mission on the surface of Mars and took ten hours to complete.
Early analysis of data sent from Sojourner led scientists to speculate that the rock was andesite
.
The name was inspired in mission scientists by barnacle-like structures on the rock that appeared in transmitted photos.
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
in Ares Vallis
Ares Vallis
Ares Vallis is an outflow channel on Mars, named after the Greek name for Mars: Ares, the god of war; it appears to have been carved by fluids, perhaps water...
. It was the first rock on Mars analyzed by the Sojourner rover using its Alpha Proton X-ray Spectrometer
APXS
An Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer is a device that analyses the chemical element composition of a sample from the scattered alpha particles, emitted protons , and fluorescent X-rays after the sample is irradiated with alpha particles and X-rays from radioactive sources...
. The encounter occurred during Sol 3 of the Mars Pathfinder mission on the surface of Mars and took ten hours to complete.
Early analysis of data sent from Sojourner led scientists to speculate that the rock was andesite
Andesite
Andesite is an extrusive igneous, volcanic rock, of intermediate composition, with aphanitic to porphyritic texture. In a general sense, it is the intermediate type between basalt and dacite. The mineral assemblage is typically dominated by plagioclase plus pyroxene and/or hornblende. Magnetite,...
.
The name was inspired in mission scientists by barnacle-like structures on the rock that appeared in transmitted photos.