List of rocks on Mars
This is an alphabetical list of named rocks (and meteorites) found on Mars, by mission. This list does not include Martian meteorites found on Earth.
Names for Mars rocks are largely unofficial designations used for ease of discussion purposes, as the International Astronomical Union's official Martian naming system declares that objects smaller than 100 m (330 ft) are not to be given official names. Because of this, some less significant rocks seen in photos returned by Mars rovers have been named more than once, and others have even had their names changed later due to conflicts or even matters of opinion. Often rocks are named after the children or family members of astronauts or NASA employees. The name "Jazzy", for example, was taken from a girl named "Jazzy" who grew up in Grand Junction, CO, USA. Her father worked for NASA and contributed to the findings and naming of the rocks.
Adirondack (Spirit) |
Barnacle Bill (Sojourner) |
Bathurst Inlet (Curiosity) |
Big Joe* (Viking) |
Block Island (Opportunity) M |
Bounce (Opportunity) |
Coronation (Curiosity) |
El Capitan (Opportunity) |
Esperance* (Opportunity) |
Goulburn (Curiosity) |
Heat Shield (Opportunity) M |
Home Plate (Spirit) |
Hottah (Curiosity) |
Jake Matijevic (Curiosity) |
Last Chance (Opportunity) |
Link (Curiosity) |
Mackinac Island (Opportunity) M |
Mimi* (Spirit) |
Oileán Ruaidh (Opportunity) M |
Pot of Gold (Spirit) |
Rocknest 3 (Curiosity) |
Shelter Island (Opportunity) M |
Tintina (Curiosity) |
Yogi (Sojourner) |
M = Meteorite) | |(Notes: * = linked article is about the mission that encountered this rock;
Contents
- 1 1976 – Viking program: Viking 1 and Viking 2 landers
- 2 1997 – Sojourner rover (Mars Pathfinder)
- 3 2004 – Spirit rover (MER-A)
- 4 2004 – Opportunity rover (MER-B)
- 5 2008 – Phoenix lander
- 6 2012 – Curiosity rover (Mars Science Laboratory)
- 7 Other rock formations
- 8 See also
- 9 References
- 10 External links
1976 – Viking program: Viking 1 and Viking 2 landers
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Viking 1 Lander – July 20, 1976; Last Earth Contact – November 13, 1982.[1][2]
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Viking 2 Lander – September 3, 1976; Last Earth Contact – April 11, 1980.[1][3]
Mars landing coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[1]
(Raw Images - Camera/Sol and 1-JPL and 2-JPL + NASA Image Viewer.)
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Rocks on Mars – viewed by the Viking 2 Lander (September 5, 1976).
1997 – Sojourner rover (Mars Pathfinder)
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Sojourner Rover – July 4, 1997; Last Earth Contact – September 27, 1997.[4]
Mars landing coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
(Raw Images - 1-Camera/Sol and 2-Camera/Sol and 3-Camera/Sol and 1-JPL and 2-JPL + NASA Image Viewer.)
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Rover Map of Sojourner's route on Mars (Sol 83, 1997) (Archive).
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"Barnacle Bill" rock on Mars – near the Sojourner Rover.
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"Barnacle Bill" rock on Mars - viewed by the Sojourner Rover.
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"Yogi" rock (circled) on Mars – near the Sojourner Rover.
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"Yogi" rock on Mars – analyzed by the Sojourner Rover.
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"Yogi" rock on Mars - viewed by the Sojourner Rover.
2004 – Spirit rover (MER-A)
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Spirit Rover – January 4, 2004; Last Earth Contact – May 25, 2011.[5]
Mars landing coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[6]
(Raw Images - Camera/Sol and JPL + NASA Image Viewer.)
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Rover Map of Spirit's route on Mars (Sol 1509, April 2, 2008) (Archive to Sol 2555, March 15, 2011 Current).
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"Adirondack" rock on Mars – viewed by the Spirit Rover.
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"Home Plate" rock outcrop on Mars – studied by the Spirit Rover.
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"Mimi" rock on Mars – viewed by the Spirit Rover.
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"Pot of Gold" rock on Mars – viewed by the Spirit Rover.
2004 – Opportunity rover (MER-B)
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Opportunity Rover – January 25, 2004; CURRENTLY ACTIVE.[7]
Mars landing coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[6]
(Raw Images - Camera/Sol and JPL + NASA Image Viewer.)
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Rover Map of Opportunity's route on Mars (Sol 2055, January 24, 2009) (Archive to Sol 3342, June 21, 2013 Current).
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"Block Island" meteorite on Mars – viewed by the Opportunity Rover (July 31, 2009).
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"Blueberries" (hematite spheres) on rock outcrop at Eagle Crater – viewed by the Opportunity Rover (Sol 46 – March, 2004).
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"Blueberries" at "Kirkwood" near Endeavour Crater – Opportunity Rover (September 6, 2012).
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"El Capitan" rock outcrop on Mars – studied by the Opportunity Rover.
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"El Capitan" rock outcrop on Mars – studied by the Opportunity Rover.
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"Heat Shield" meteorite (officially, Meridiani Planum meteorite) on Mars – viewed by the Opportunity Rover (January 6, 2005).
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"Homestake" vein on Mars – viewed by the Opportunity Rover (November 12, 2012).
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"Last Chance" rock outcrop on Mars – viewed by the Opportunity Rover.
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"Mackinac Island" meteorite on Mars – viewed by the Opportunity Rover (October 13, 2009).
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"Oileán Ruaidh" meteorite on Mars – viewed by the Opportunity Rover (September 24, 2010).
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"Pinnacle Island" rock - "mysterious" appearance imaged by Opportunity (January 23, 2014).[9][10]
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"Pinnacle Island" rock - "mysterious" appearance imaged by Opportunity (January 17, 2014).[9][10]
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"Pinnacle Island" rock - microscopic view by Opportunity (February 1, 2014).[9][10]
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"Pinnacle Island" rock - location where rock was dislodged by Opportunity (February 4, 2014).
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"Shelter Island" meteorite on Mars – viewed by the Opportunity Rover (October 3, 2009).
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"Shelter Island" meteorite on Mars – viewed by the Opportunity Rover (October 1, 2009).
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"Sparkling Spheres" embedded in trench wall at Meridiani Planum - viewed by the Opportunity Rover (February, 2004).
2008 – Phoenix lander
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Phoenix Lander – May 25, 2008; Last Earth Contact – November 10, 2008.[11]
Mars landing coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
(Raw Images - Camera/Sol and JPL + NASA Image Viewer.)
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2012 – Curiosity rover (Mars Science Laboratory)
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Curiosity Rover – August 6, 2012; CURRENTLY ACTIVE.[12]
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(Raw Images - Camera and Sol and 1-JPL and 2-JPL + NASA Image Viewer.)
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First-Year & First-Mile Traverse Map of the Curiosity rover on Mars (August 1, 2013; 3-D).
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"Alexander Hills" bedrock on Mars - viewed by Curiosity (November 23, 2014).
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"Bathurst Inlet" rock on Mars – as viewed by the MAHLI camera on the Curiosity rover (September 30, 2012).
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PIA18477-MarsCuriosityRover-BonanzaKingRock-Drill-20140911.jpg
"Bonanza King" rock on Mars - dusted and initially drilled (September 11, 2014).
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PIA18478-MarsCuriosityRover-Bonanz-KingRock-Drill-LightColorVein-20140911.jpg
"Bonanza King" rock on Mars - drilling stopped due to loose rock (September 11, 2014).
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"Burwash" rock on Mars – as viewed by the MAHLI camera on the Curiosity rover (October 29, 2012).
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PIA18609-MarsCuriosityRover-1stDrillHoleMountSharp-ConfidenceHillsRock-Mahli-Sol759-20140924.jpg
"Confidence Hills" rock on Mars - Curiosity's first target at Mount Sharp (September 24, 2014).
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"Coronation" rock on Mars – first target of the ChemCam laser analyzer on the Curiosity rover (August 17, 2012).
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"Coronation" rock on Mars – close-up - viewed by the Curiosity rover (August 17, 2012).
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"Crestaurum" sand patch on Mars – before/after ChemCam laser hits – as viewed by Curiosity (October 20, 2012).
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"Cumberland" bedrock on Mars - Curiosity's second drilling site (Yellowknife Bay; February 19, 2013; white balanced).
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"Darwin" rock outcrop on Mars - viewed by Curiosity (Waypoint 1; September 10, 2013; overview).
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"Darwin" rock outcrop ridge - viewed by Curiosity (Waypoint1; September 21, 2013; context).
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"Darwin" sandstone on Mars - viewed by the Curiosity rover (Waypoint 1; September 21, 2013; closeup).
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"Ekwir_1" rock on Mars – cleaned with Curiosity's "Dust Removal Tool" (DRT) (January 6, 2013; closeup).
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"Et-Then" rock on Mars – as viewed by the MAHLI camera on the Curiosity rover (October 29, 2012).
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"Garden City" rock - closeup – as viewed by the MAHLI camera on the Curiosity rover (March 2, 2015).
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"Gillespie Lake" rock texture – as viewed by the MAHLI camera on the Curiosity rover (December 19, 2012).
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"Goulburn" rock outcrop on Mars – ancient streambed viewed by Curiosity (August 17, 2012).
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"Goulburn" rock outcrop on Mars – close-up viewed by Curiosity (August 17, 2012).
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"Harrison" rock (and crystals) on Mars – viewed by the Curiosity rover (January 15, 2014).
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"Hidden Valley" sand - Curiosity's tracks (August 4, 2014).
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"Hidden Valley" water-related sedimentary deposits on Mars – Curiosity rover (August 7, 2014).
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"High Dune" sand (undisturbed) – Curiosity rover (December 5,2015).
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"Hottah" rock outcrop on Mars – ancient streambed viewed by Curiosity (September 12, 2012; closeup; 3-D).
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"Ithaca" rock on Mars – target of the ChemCam laser analyzer on Curiosity (October 30, 2013; closeup).
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"Jake Matijevic" rock on Mars – a prime test target of the Curiosity rover (September 19, 2012).
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Jake Matijevic rock on Mars – target of APSX & ChemCam on Curiosity (September 22, 2012).
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"John Klein" mudstone - drill hole (1.6 cm (0.63 in)) made by Curiosity (Yellowknife Bay; May 10, 2013).
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"Knorr" sedimentary rock on Mars – as viewed by the MastCam on Curiosity (December 20, 2012).[13]
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"Lamoose" rock (high silica levels) – viewed by Curiosity (July 11, 2015).
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"Lebanon" meteorite on Mars – viewed by Curiosity (May 25, 2014).
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"Link" rock outcrop on Mars – ancient streambed viewed by Curiosity (September 2, 2012).
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"Missoula" rock outcrop on Mars – viewed by Curiosity (July 1, 2015).
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"Missoula" rock outcrop - "Buckskin" drilling site (July 1, 2015).
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"Mojave 2" rock on Mars – drilling site - viewed by Curiosity (December 31, 2015).
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"Nova" rock on Mars – 1st laser spark imaged (Curiosity rover; July 12, 2014; video (01:07)).
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"Nova" rock on Mars – ChemCam spectra (Curiosity rover; July 12, 2014).
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"Pahrump Hills" rock outcrop on Mars – viewed by Curiosity (September 23, 2014).
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"Pahrump Hills" bedrock on Mars - viewed by Curiosity (November 9, 2014).
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"Pahrump Hills" sand - viewed by Curiosity (November 13, 2014).
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"Pahrump Hills" sand - Curiosity's tracks (November 7, 2014).
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"Pink Cliffs" rock outcrop on Mars - viewed by Curiosity (October 7, 2014).
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"Point Lake" rock outcrop (detail) on Mars – viewed by Curiosity (June 13, 2013; context).
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"Rocknest" sand patch on Mars – target for the first use of Curiosity's scoop (September 28, 2012).
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"Rocknest" sand – first X-ray analysis of Martian soil (Curiosity rover; October 30, 2012)[21]
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"Rocknest" sand on Mars – scoffmark made by the Curiosity rover (MAHLI, October 4, 2012).
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"Rocknest" sand patch on Mars – Curiosity's scooper sifts a load of sand (October 7, 2012).
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"Rocknest 3" rock on Mars – as viewed by the MastCam on Curiosity (October 5, 2012).
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"Shaler" rock outcrop on Mars – as viewed by the MastCam on the Curiosity rover (December 7, 2012).
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"Sheepbed" rock outcrop on Mars – as viewed by the MastCam on Curiosity (December 13, 2012).
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"Snake River" rock feature on Mars – as viewed by Curiosity (December 20, 2012).[18]
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"Sutton Inlier" rock on Mars – broken by the Curiosity rover (January 31, 2013).[13]
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"Wernecke" rock on Mars – cleaned with Curiosity's "Dust Removal Tool" (DRT) (January 26, 2013).[13]
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"Whale" rock on Mars - cross-bedding due to passage of water - as viewed by Curiosity (November 2, 2014).
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"Windjana" sandstone on Mars - as viewed by the Curiosity rover (Kimberley; April 23, 2014; context).
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"Windjana" sandstone on Mars - drill hole (1.6 cm (0.63 in)) made by Curiosity (Kimberley; April 29, 2014).
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"Winnipesaukee" rock on Mars - target of the ChemCam laser analyzer on Curiosity (June 8, 2014).
Other rock formations
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"Face on Mars" – due to Sun's lighting (Viking 1 orbiter; July 25, 1976)
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"Smiley face" in Galle Crater on Mars.
(Viking 1 orbiter; 1970s). -
Cave entrances (possible) on Mars (2001 Mars Odyssey; September 24, 2007).
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Mars monolith on Mars – rectangular boulder (MRO; July 24, 2008)
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Rootless cones on Mars – due to lava flows interacting with water (MRO; January 4, 2013)
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See also
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 13.8 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rocks on Mars. |
- Mars - Geologic Map (USGS, 2014) (original / crop / full / video (00:56)).
- Rocks on Mars (Geology.com)
- MPF Rock Names
- Named Rocks on Mars (ppt file)
- NASA – Mars Exploration Program
- Minerals and the Origins of Life (Robert Hazen, NASA) (video, 60m, April 2014).