NASA's Perseverance rover found an unusually shaped rock called "Phippsaksla" on top of a bedrock outcrop on the outskirts of the Jezero crater. The exotic rock is suspected to be an iron-nickel meteorite. If it is actually an iron-nickel meteorite, it will be Perseverance's first such discovery.

Iron-nickel meteorites are not new discoveries on the Martian surface. Rovers like Curiosity have identified many of them in the Gale Crater. But Perseverance has not identified any so far within the Jezero crater, even though the crater's features suggest that meteorites did fall into it.

Just recently, however, Perseverance found an unusually shaped rock about 80 centimeters (31 inches) wide called "Phippsaksla." This rock was found during an investigation of the bedrock at "Vernodden."

Phippsaksla stood out from the surrounding rocks. While the rocks around it were low-lying, flat, and fragmented, Phippsaksla had a high-standing appearance. A close-up view of the rock revealed its cavernous weathering texture.

Perseverance pictured this rock using its Left Mastcam-Z camera. This camera is one of a pair of cameras located high on the rover's mast. After spotting Phippsaksla, Perseverance used its SuperCam instrument to further study the rock. It found that the rock is made of iron and nickel.

Phippsaksla's iron and nickel composition is an indication that it might be a meteorite. Further studies will be carried out to confirm this.