- Yogi Rock
MarsGeo
name=Yogi
caption=Mars Pathfinder rover "Sojourner" approaching Yogi Rock (circled)
type=Rock
latitude=19.33
N_or_S=N
longitude=33.55
E_or_W=WYogi Rock is a rock on
Mars that was discovered during theMars Pathfinder mission in1997 , and named byGeoffrey A. Landis . The rocks found on the mission were named after famous icons and figures, and Yogi Rock was thought to resemble the head of abear looking away from the spacecraft. It was, appropriately, then named for the famedcartoon characterYogi Bear .The rock was the first on Mars found to be made of
basalt , which suggests previous volcanic activity in the region as basalt is anigneous rock . The smoothness of the surface also suggested the past existence of water in the region. Yogi was also the first large rock reached by the "Sojourner" rover and was analyzed by anX-ray spectrometer to determine its composition. In a notable coincidence, the rock underYogi Berra Stadium inLittle Falls, New Jersey also turned out to be basalt.Images of "Sojouner" approaching Yogi used in the opening credits of "" made that television program the first science fiction television or film production in history to use footage taken on another planet.
ee also
*
List of rocks on Mars External links
* [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1997/08/970813214200.htm Science Daily article on Yogi Rock and Yogi Berra]
* [http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980309.html NASA site]
* [http://www.cnn.com/TECH/9707/09/mars/ CNN article on Mars landing]
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