Perseverance Rover Uncovers Ancient Impact History on Mars

WHO:

NASA - The organization responsible for the Perseverance Mars rover.

WHAT:

NASA - The Perseverance Mars rover uncovered evidence of a 245-foot-thick (75-meter-thick) stack of ancient rock.

NASA - This stack of rock was built by repeated asteroid impacts and is referred to as the “Broom Point member” by the rover’s science team.

NASA - The sequence of layered bedrock is likely more than 3.9 billion years old, making it among the oldest terrain ever examined by a Mars rover.

WHERE:

NASA - The location of the findings is on the rim of Jezero Crater on Mars.

WHEN:

NASA - The rock sequence is likely more than 3.9 billion years old.

WHY:

NASA - The evidence suggests that the rock formation was created by repeated asteroid impacts.

HOW:

NASA - The Perseverance rover utilized its scientific instruments to analyze the rock layers and determine their age and formation process.

(UPDATED July 15, 2026 18:26 UTC)

NASA has announced that the Perseverance Mars rover has uncovered a remarkable 245-foot-thick stack of ancient rock on the rim of Jezero Crater, which is believed to be more than 3.9 billion years old. This layered bedrock, known as the “Broom Point member,” was formed by repeated asteroid impacts, providing valuable insights into Mars' geological history. The rover used its advanced scientific instruments to analyze these rock layers, revealing their age and the processes that shaped them.