Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2025 March 23
    [2]Rocks and brown sand occupy this horizontally compressed image of
    Mars. At the top is a light colored peak. Please see the explanation
                       for more detailed information.

                       Ancient Ogunquit Beach on Mars
     Image Credit: [3]NASA, [4]JPL-Caltech, [5]MSSS, [6]Curiosity Rover

   Explanation: This was once a beach -- on ancient [7]Mars. The
   [8]featured 360-degree panorama, [9]horizontally compressed, was taken
   in 2017 by the robotic [10]Curiosity rover that explored the [11]red
   planet. Named Ogunquit Beach after its [12]terrestrial counterpart,
   evidence shows that at times long ago the area was underwater, while at
   other times it was at the edge of an [13]ancient lake. The light peak
   in the central background is the top of [14]Mount Sharp, the central
   feature in [15]Gale Crater where Curiosity explored. Portions of the
   [16]dark sands in the foreground were [17]scooped up for analysis. The
   light colored [18]bedrock is composed of [19]sediment that likely
   settled at the bottom of the now-dried lakebed. The [20]featured
   panorama ([21]interactive version here) was created from over 100
   images and seemingly signed by the rover on the lower left.

                     Tomorrow's picture: moon goes dark
     __________________________________________________________________

      [22]< | [23]Archive | [24]Submissions | [25]Index | [26]Search |
   [27]Calendar | [28]RSS | [29]Education | [30]About APOD | [31]Discuss |
                                    [32]>
     __________________________________________________________________

    Authors & editors: [33]Robert Nemiroff ([34]MTU) & [35]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([36]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [37]Specific rights apply.
            [38]NASA Web Privacy, [39]Accessibility, [40]Notices;
                A service of: [41]ASD at [42]NASA / [43]GSFC,
                         [44]NASA Science Activation
                           & [45]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2503/OgunquitBeach_Curiosity_8776.jpg
   3. https://www.nasa.gov/
   4. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
   5. http://www.msss.com/
   6. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/msl-curiosity/
   7. https://science.nasa.gov/mars/
   8. https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA11241
   9. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/62/f1/fe/62f1fe59e5e8ed26d724f701adc5be0b.jpg
  10. https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission/rover/
  11. https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/goddard/nasa-new-study-on-why-mars-is-red-supports-potentially-habitable-past/
  12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NUOfTyFumg
  13. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-curiosity-rover-team-confirms-ancient-lakes-on-mars/
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120827.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110729.html
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160119.html
  17. http://redplanet.asu.edu/?p=23396
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040127.html
  19. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sediment
  20. https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA11241
  21. https://youtu.be/V3qr9AqZyEI
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250322.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  26. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  28. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  31. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=250323
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250324.html
  33. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  34. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  35. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  36. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  37. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  41. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/
  43. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  44. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  45. http://www.mtu.edu/