NASA Mars Rover is looking out for 'Lookout Hill'

NASA's Mars Perseverance rover captured this image of the Rio Chiquito abrasion patch, using its SHERLOC WATSON camera, located on the turret at the end of the rover's robotic arm. Image acquired on Nov. 20, 2024 (Sol 1334, or Martian day 1,334 of the Mars 2020 mission) at the local mean solar time of 16:18:39. (Image: NASA)

NASA’s Perseverance rover, also known as Percy, has reached a significant milestone on Mars. After completing its 30th abrasion on a rock patch named Rio Chiquito, the rover team has started to move towards the next geologically important location: Witch Hazel Hill.

This progress comes after a well-deserved break during the Thanksgiving holiday. The team took a couple of sols off before resuming work. During the Rio Chiquito analysis, several instruments, including SCAM, ZCAM, SHERLOC, and PIXL, were used to study the surrounding rock. The data collected will offer valuable insights into the geological history of Jezero Crater, a site that has long been a focus for scientists.

According to a NASA report, Percy’s next stop will be Witch Hazel Hill. On the way, it will visit 'Lookout Hill,' the highest point of the crater rim. From there, Percy will provide stunning views of both Jezero’s interior and its surrounding landscape. The rover's route to these points is mostly covered in regolith, with few rock outcrops to examine. However, the science team continues to monitor the drive progress and conduct remote observations of distant rock formations.

The team is particularly excited about Lookout Hill. It offers a unique opportunity to study the topography of Jezero from a high vantage point. The team looks forward to analysing data and images as Percy moves closer to these critical geological areas.