NASA’s Perseverance rover has seen its fair share of rocks, and most are unremarkable. Once in a while, however, Perseverance stumbles upon something exotic. That’s precisely what happened during the rover’s recent investigation of the bedrock at “Vernodden.”

While exploring this site along the rim of the Jezero Crater , Perseverance encountered an oddly shaped rock about 31 inches (80 centimeters) wide, according to NASA . Now named “Phippsaksla,” it caught the attention of Perseverance’s handlers due to its sculpted, high-standing appearance, rising sharply above the flat, fragmented rocks surrounding it.

Further investigations are required to determine the true nature of Phippsaksla, but a preliminary analysis of its composition suggests it may be a meteorite rich in iron and ni

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