View source for Astronomy:Jezero (crater)

{{short description|Crater on Mars}}
{{Infobox crater data
| titlecolor  = #FA8072
| title       = Jezero
| image       = Perseverance's First Full-Color Look at Mars.png
| caption     = First full-color image transmitted by ''[[Engineering:Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance]]'' from Jezero
| coordinate_title = [[Astronomy:Mars#Geography|Coordinates]]
| globe       = Mars
| coordinates = {{coord|18.38|N|77.58|E|globe:mars_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| diameter    = {{convert|45|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Perseverance Rover's Landing Site: Jezero Crater |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/mission/science/landing-site/ |website=Mars 2020 Mission Perseverance Rover |publisher=NASA |access-date=12 March 2022}}</ref>
| eponym      = Jezero, Bosnia and Herzegovina
}}
[[File:Jezero crater — the landing site for NASA’s Mars 2020 mission.png|260px|thumb|right|Jezero on the edge of the [[Astronomy:Isidis Planitia|Isidis basin]]]]
'''Jezero'''{{efn|The name is approximately pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|j|ɛ|z|ə|r|oʊ}} {{respell|YEH|zə|roh}} ({{IPA-sh|jêzero|lang}}), but the Mars 2020 mission team has commonly used the pronunciation {{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|ɛ|z|ə|r|oʊ}} {{respell|JEH|zə|roh}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.space.com/how-to-pronounce-jezero-crater.html|title=How to pronounce 'Jezero crater.' (Yes, you may be doing it wrong.)|date=18 February 2021|last=Urrutia|first=Doris Elin|website=Space.com|access-date=5 April 2021}}</ref>}} {{Airport codes||JZRO}} is a [[Astronomy:Impact crater|crater]] on [[Astronomy:Mars|Mars]] in the [[Astronomy:Syrtis Major quadrangle|Syrtis Major quadrangle]],<ref name="HR-20080606">{{cite web |last=Wray |first=James |title=Channel into Jezero Crater Delta |url=http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/PSP_007925_1990 |date=6 June 2008 |work=[[Organization:NASA|NASA]] |access-date=6 March 2015}}</ref> about {{convert|45.0|km|mi|abbr=on}} in diameter. Thought to have once been flooded with water, the crater contains a fan-delta deposit rich in [[Earth:Clay|clay]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn12873-prime-landing-sites-chosen-for-biggest-martian-rover.html|title=Prime landing sites chosen for biggest Martian rover|first=Hazel|last=Muir|access-date=20 November 2018}}</ref> The lake in the crater was present when valley networks were forming on Mars. Besides having a delta, the crater shows [[Earth:Point bar|point bars]] and inverted channels. From a study of the delta and channels, it was concluded that the lake inside the crater probably formed during a period in which there was continual [[Earth:Surface runoff|surface runoff]].<ref>{{cite conference|last1=Goudge|first1=T.|display-authors=0|year=2017|url=https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2017/pdf/1195.pdf|title=Stratigraphy and Evolution of Delta Channel Deposits, Jezero Crater Mars.|conference=Lunar and Planetary Science 48 (2017)|id=1195.pdf}}</ref>

In 2007, following the discovery of its ancient lake, the crater was named after Jezero, Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of several eponymous towns in the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=NASA Mars Mission Connects With Bosnian Town |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-mars-mission-connects-with-bosnian-town |website=jpl.nasa.gov |access-date=18 February 2021 |date=23 September 2019 |publisher=[[Organization:Jet Propulsion Laboratory|Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14300|title=Planetary Names: Crater, craters: Jezero on Mars|website=planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov|access-date=2018-12-14}}</ref> In some [[Social:Slavic languages|Slavic languages]], the word {{linktext|jezero}}{{efn|[[Social:Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]] and {{lang-mk|езеро|ezero}}, {{lang-sh-Latn-Cyrl|jezero|језеро|separator=" / "}}, [[Social:Czech language|Czech]] and {{lang-sl|jezero}}, and its closest written variations ({{lang-pl|jezioro}}, {{lang-dsb|jezer}}, {{lang-sk|jazero}}, [[Social:Russian language|Russian]] and {{lang-uk|озеро|ozero}}), as well as in Baltic languages ({{lang-lt|ežeras}}, {{lang-lv|ezers}})<ref name="dictionary"/>}} means 'lake'.<ref name="dictionary">{{cite encyclopedia|editor-last=Trubachyov|editor-first=Oleg Nikolayevich|title=Etimologicheskiy slovar' slavyanskikh yazykov|script-title=ru:Этимологический словарь славянских языков|trans-title=Etymological Dictionary of Slavic Languages|language=Russian|year=1979|publisher=[[Company:Nauka (publisher)|Nauka]]|volume=6|location=[[Place:Moscow|Moscow]]|pages=33–34}}</ref>

In November 2018, it was announced that Jezero had been chosen as the landing site for the rover ''[[Engineering:Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance]]'' as part of [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]'s [[Astronomy:Mars 2020|Mars 2020]] mission.<ref name="NYT20200728kc">{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=How NASA Found the Ideal Hole on Mars to Land In – Jezero crater. the destination of the Perseverance rover, is a promising place to look for evidence of extinct Martian life. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/28/science/nasa-jezero-perseverance.html |date=28 July 2020 |work={{wipe|The New York Times}} |access-date=28 July 2020 }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20181119">{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=NASA Mars 2020 Rover Gets a Landing Site: A Crater That Contained a Lake – The rover will search the Jezero Crater and delta for the chemical building blocks of life and other signs of past microbes. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/19/science/nasa-mars-2020-rover.html |date=19 November 2018 |work={{wipe|The New York Times}} |access-date=21 November 2018 }}</ref><ref name="SPC-20181119">{{cite news |last=Wall |first=Mike |title=Jezero Crater or Bust! NASA Picks Landing Site for Mars 2020 Rover |url=https://www.space.com/42486-mars-2020-rover-jezero-crater-landing-site.html |date=19 November 2018 |work=Space.com |access-date=20 November 2018 }}</ref> In November 2020, evidence of boulder falls was found on the slopes of the delta deposits that the rover is planned to explore, on the wall of Jezero itself as well as on the wall of Dacono,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/15877|title=Dacono|work=Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature|publisher=IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature|access-date=22 September 2021}}</ref> a small crater {{cvt|2|km}} in diameter on the floor of Jezero.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Sinha|first1=R.K.|display-authors=0|year=2020|url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03008495/file/Sinha_forHAL.pdf|title=Boulder fall activity in the Jezero Crater, Mars|journal=Geophysical Research Letters  |volume=47|issue=23|pages=e90362|doi=10.1029/2020GL090362|bibcode=2020GeoRL..4790362S|s2cid=228859524}}</ref> ''Perseverance'' successfully landed in the crater on 18 February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Billings|first=Lee|title=Perseverance Has Landed! Mars Rover Begins a New Era of Exploration|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/perseverance-has-landed-mars-rover-begins-a-new-era-of-exploration/|access-date=2021-02-18|website=Scientific American|language=en}}</ref>  On 5 March 2021, NASA named the landing site of the rover Octavia E. Butler Landing.<ref name="NASA-20210305">{{cite news |author=Staff |title=Welcome to 'Octavia E. Butler Landing' |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/25701/welcome-to-octavia-e-butler-landing/ |date=5 March 2021 |work=[[Organization:NASA|NASA]] |accessdate=5 March 2021 }}</ref>

==Local features==
* '''Séítah''' (pronounced /{{IPA|sei˥tʰa˩x}}/, meaning 'amidst the sand' in [[Social:Navajo language|Navajo]]) – potentially the oldest, accessible geologic units in Jezero Crater with multiple outcrops between the numerous sand ripples; location where ''Perseverance'' started the first year of its scientific campaign and took the first core samples.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/beta/catalog/PIA24596 |title=Perseverance's First Road Trip |publisher=NASA/JPL |date=July 23, 2021|lang=en |access-date=November 25, 2021}}</ref>

In December 2021, NASA announced that some of the rocks in Jezero in Séítah were [[Earth:Igneous rock|igneous]].  When examined closely, rocks revealed the mineral [[Chemistry:Olivine|olivine]] surrounded by the mineral [[Chemistry:Pyroxene|pyroxene]].  That arrangement happens in thick [[Biology:Magma|magma]] bodies and geologists call this type of texture "Cumulate."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59677383|title=Nasa's Perseverance Mars rover finds its 'baseline' rocks|work=BBC News|date=16 December 2021}}</ref>   [[Chemistry:Carbonate|Carbonate]] and [[Chemistry:Sulfate|sulfate]] minerals were also detected which means that the rocks had been altered by water.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59677383|title = Nasa's Perseverance Mars rover finds its 'baseline' rocks|work = BBC News|date = 16 December 2021}}</ref>  The instrument used for this analysis was the Planetary Instrument for X-Ray Lithochemistry (PIXL).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-perseverance-mars-rover-makes-surprising-discoveries|title = NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover Makes Surprising Discoveries|website = [[Organization:Jet Propulsion Laboratory|Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]}}</ref>

==Crater==
[[File:Jezero Crater Formation by asteroid impact.webm|thumb|Jezero Crater Formation by asteroid impact|550x550px]]
In a March 2015 paper, researchers from [[Organization:Brown University|Brown University]] described how an ancient [[Astronomy:Lakes on Mars|Martian lake]] system existed in Jezero. The study advanced the idea that water filled the crater at least two separate times.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150325210744.htm|title=Ancient Martian lake system records two water-related events|access-date=20 November 2018|website=ScienceDaily|date=March 25, 2015}}</ref> There are two channels on the northern and western sides of the crater that probably supplied it with water; each of these channels has a delta-like deposit where sediment was carried by water and deposited in the lake.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spaceref.com/mars/ancient-martian-lake-system-records-two-water-related-events.html|title=Ancient Martian Lake System Records Two Water-related Events - SpaceRef|website=spaceref.com|access-date=20 November 2018}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>  Craters of a given diameter are expected to have a certain depth; a depth less than expected means sediment entered the crater.<ref>{{cite conference|author=Garvin, J., S. Sakimoto, J. Frawley|year=2003|title=Craters on Mars: Global geometric properties from gridded MOLA topography|conference=Sixth International Conference on Mars|id=Abstract no. #3277}}</ref> Calculations suggest that the crater may hold about {{convert|1|km}} of sediments.  Most of the sediments may have been brought in by channels.<ref name="Schon, S. 2012"/>

Since it is believed that the lake was long-lived, life may have developed in the crater; the delta may have required a period of one to ten million years to form.<ref name="Schon, S. 2012">{{cite journal|last1=Schon|first1=S.|first2=J.|last2=Head|first3=C.|last3=Fassett|year=2012|title=An overfilled lacustrine system and progradational delta in Jezero crater, Mars: Implications for Noachian climate|journal=Planetary and Space Science|volume=67|issue=1|pages=28–45|doi=10.1016/j.pss.2012.02.003|bibcode=2012P&SS...67...28S}}</ref> [[Chemistry:Clay minerals|Clay minerals]] have been detected in and around the crater.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Bibring, J.|display-authors=0|year=2006|title=Global mineralogical and aqueous Mars history derived from OMEGA/Mars Express data|journal=Science|volume=312|issue=5772|pages=400–404|doi=10.1126/science.1122659|pmid=16627738|bibcode=2006Sci...312..400B|s2cid=13968348|doi-access=}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Mangold, N.|display-authors=0|year=2007|title=Mineralogy of the Nili Fossae region with OMEGA/Mars Express data: 2. Aqueous alteration of the crust|journal=[[Earth:Journal of Geophysical Research|Journal of Geophysical Research]]|volume=112|issue=E8|pages=E08S04|doi=10.1029/2006JE002835|bibcode=2007JGRE..112.8S04M|s2cid=15188454 |url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00376813/document|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Poulet, F.|display-authors=0|year=2005|title=Phyllosilicates on Mars and implications for early Martian climate|journal=Nature|volume=438|issue=7068|pages=623–627|doi=10.1038/nature04274|pmid=16319882|bibcode=2005Natur.438..623P|s2cid=7465822}}</ref> The ''[[Astronomy:Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter|Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter]]'' identified [[Chemistry:Smectite|smectite]] clays.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Murchie, S. |display-authors=0 |title=A synthesis of Martian aqueous mineralogy after 1 Mars year of observations from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter |date=2009 |journal=[[Earth:Journal of Geophysical Research|Journal of Geophysical Research]] |volume=114 |issue=E2 |pages=E00D06 |doi=10.1029/2009JE003342 |bibcode=2009JGRE..114.0D06M |url=https://authors.library.caltech.edu/43957/1/jgre2648.pdf }}</ref> Clays form in the presence of water, so this area probably once held water and maybe life in ancient times. The surface in places is cracked into [[Astronomy:Polygonal patterned ground|polygonal patterns]]; such shapes often form when clay dries out. The image below depicts examples of these patterns, and a channel that carried water and sediments into the crater.<ref name="HR-20080606" />


{| class="wikitable" style="clear:right; margin-right:1.1em; font-size:95%; text-align:center; valign="top"; width:100%;"
|+ <!-- Write your caption here -->
|-
|'''Geologic map of Jezero and the Nili Planum region'''<br><br>[[Image:Sim3464 USGS Jezero Crater.png|640px]]
| {{multipleimage|align=right |direction=vertical |width=240
|image1=Jezero karte (ESA).jpg|caption1=Elevation map of Jezero.<br>Ancient rivers ''Neretva'' and ''Sava'' fed the crater from NW until the overflow flooding carved the outlet ''Pliva'' at the NE side of the crater rim
|image2=MarsPerseveranceRover-EDL-Overview-20210218.jpg|caption2=''Perseverance''{{'s}} landing site in Jezero
|image3=PIA24172-AncientJezeroCrater-Illustration.jpg|caption3=Artist's concept of Jezero filled with a lake
| header_background=#BBDD99
| background color=#BBDD99
| header_align=center
}}
|-
|}

{{multipleimage
| header = Panoramic views of Jezero
| align = center
| caption_align = center
| direction = vertical
| total_width = 800
|image1=Mastcam-Z's First 360-Degree Panorama.jpg|caption1=Panoramic view of Jezero captured by ''Perseverance'' from Octavia E. Butler Landing
|image2=Jezero crater on Mars, sol 14 of Perseverance mission.png|caption2=View of Jezero acquired by ''Perseverance''{{'s}} left navigation camera (Navcam) on the 14-th sol of the mission
|image3=Jezero Crater Rim Panorama NASA Perseverance rover.jpg|caption3=Rim of Jezero taken by ''Perseverance''{{'s}} Mastcam-Z instrument}}

==Exploration==
===Mars 2020 mission===
{{main|Astronomy:Timeline of Mars 2020}}
<gallery mode=packed heights=180>
File:MarsPerseveranceRover-PossibleRoutes-20210305.jpg|Possible routes for ''Perseverance'' for exploration and study in Jezero
File:PIA24483-MarsPerseveranceRover-OctaviaEButler-LandingSite-20210305.jpg|Octavia E. Butler Landing
</gallery>

[[File:Perseverance Landing Skycrane.jpg|thumb|''Perseverance'' landing in Jezero as seen from the [[Astronomy:Sky crane (landing system)|sky crane]] deploying it]]
Jezero, once considered a site for the [[Organization:Mars Science Laboratory|Mars Science Laboratory]], was later proposed as a landing site for NASA's [[Astronomy:Mars 2020|Mars 2020]] mission, carrying the rover ''[[Engineering:Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance]]'' and the helicopter ''[[Engineering:Ingenuity (helicopter)|Ingenuity]]''.<ref name="NASA-20150304">{{cite web |author=Staff |title=PIA19303: A Possible Landing Site for the 2020 Mission: Jezero Crater |url=http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA19303 |date=4 March 2015 |work=[[Organization:NASA|NASA]] |access-date=7 March 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/msl/workshops/2nd_workshop/talks/Fassett_Nili.pdf|title=Jezero Crater Lake: Phyllosilicate-bearing sediments from a Noachian valley network as a potential MSL landing site|author1=Caleb Fassett|author2=Bethany Ehlmann|author3=Jim Head|author4=Scott Murchie|author5=Jack Mustard|author5-link=John F. Mustard|author6=Sam Schon|access-date=December 19, 2020}}</ref> In early 2017 it was selected as one of the top three candidate landing sites, along with [[Astronomy:Northeast Syrtis|northeast Syrtis]], {{cvt|30|km}} to the southwest.<ref>{{cite journal  |title=Three sites where NASA might retrieve its first Mars rock |journal=Nature |first=Alexandra |last=Witze |date=2017-02-11 |volume=542 |issue=7641 |pages=279–280 |doi=10.1038/nature.2017.21470|pmid=28202980 |bibcode=2017Natur.542..279W |doi-access=free }}</ref>

A primary aim of the Mars 2020 mission is to search for signs of ancient life. It is hoped that a later mission could then return Martian samples from sites identified as probably containing remains of life. To safely bring the craft down, a {{convert|12|mi|adj=on}} wide, smooth, flat circular area is needed. Geologists hope to examine places where water once ponded.<ref name="NASA-Themis">{{cite web |author=Staff |title=The Floods of Iani Chaos |url=http://themis.mars.asu.edu/feature/31 |date=2010 |work=[[Organization:NASA|NASA]] |access-date=7 March 2015 }}</ref> They would like to examine [[Earth:Sediment|sediment layers]].

In November 2018, Jezero was selected as the target landing site for Mars 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/nasas-mars-2020-rover-will-land-in-jezero-crater-1830540291|title=NASA's Mars 2020 Rover Will Land in Jezero Crater|website=Gizmodo|first=Ryan F.|last=Mandelbaum|date=19 November 2018 |access-date=20 November 2018}}</ref> On 18 February 2021, ''Perseverance'' landed successfully in the crater.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/touchdown-nasas-mars-perseverance-rover-safely-lands-on-red-planet|title=Touchdown! NASA's Mars Perseverance Rover Safely Lands on Red Planet|website=[[Organization:JPL|JPL]]|access-date=18 February 2021}}</ref> On 19 April 2021, ''Ingenuity'' performed the first powered flight on Mars from Jezero, which received the commemorative ICAO airport code JZRO.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8923/nasas-ingenuity-mars-helicopter-succeeds-in-historic-first-flight/ |title=NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Succeeds in Historic First Flight |publisher=[[Organization:NASA|NASA]] |date=2021-04-19 |website=Mars Exploration Program |access-date=2021-04-19 }}</ref>

===Mars Sample Retrieval Lander===
<!--[[File:PIA24746(cropped) Jezero Crater Floor Fractured Rough.png|thumb|center|640px|“'''Crater Floor Fractured Rough'''” is the area from which the first rock sample shall be collected<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/26066 |title=Perseverance Scouts First Sampling Location |publisher=NASA |date=July 7, 2021 |lang=en |ref=Floor Fractured Rough}}</ref>]] One too many images. -->
An ESA–[[Organization:NASA|NASA]] team produced a three-launch architecture concept for a [[Astronomy:NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return|Mars sample return]], which uses the [[Engineering:Perseverance (rover)|Mars 2020 rover]] to cache small samples, a [[Astronomy:Multistage rocket|two-stage]], [[Chemistry:Solid-propellant rocket|solid-fueled]] 
Mars ascent stage to send it into orbit, and an orbiter to rendezvous with it above Mars and take it to Earth.<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/SSB_059331 Planetary Science Decadal Survey Mission & Technology Studies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218140247/http://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/SSB_059331 |date=18 December 2017 }}. Sites.nationalacademies.org. Retrieved on 2012-05-10.</ref> [[Engineering:Solar electric propulsion|Solar electric propulsion]] could allow a one launch sample return instead of three.<ref name="archive">Oh, David Y. ''et al.'' (2009) [https://archive.org/details/singlelauncharchitecture Single Launch Architecture for Potential Mars Sample Return Mission Using Electric Propulsion].  JPL/Caltech.</ref> So, after a launch in July 2026, a lander with a  Mars ascent rocket (developed by NASA) with two [[Astronomy:Mars Sample Recovery Helicopter|sample recovery helicopters]] lands exactly near the Mars 2020 rover at Three Forks in Jezero Crater in August 2028. The collected samples by Mars 2020 are delivers them to the ascent rocket. Once loaded with the samples, the Mars ascent rocket will launch with the sample return canister in spring 2029 and reach a low Mars orbit.

This design would ease the schedule of the whole project, giving controllers time and flexibility to carry out the required operations. Furthermore, the program could rely on the successful landing system developed for the Mars Science Laboratory, avoiding the costs and risks associated with developing and testing yet another landing system from scratch.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal|title=NASA plans Mars sample-return rover|first=Alexandra|last=Witze|date=15 May 2014|volume=509|issue=7500|page=272|doi=10.1038/509272a|pmid=24828172
|journal=Nature|bibcode=2014Natur.509..272W|doi-access=free}}</ref> In addition, NASA may change the solar panels on lander with Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator, a nuclear power source, to ensure sufficient power and to keep the rocket’s propulsion system from getting too cold, thus ensuring a longer lifetime, better thermal protection and safe operation even if they are carried in Mars Global Dust Storm Season, but these changes are still to be clarified by NASA.

==Discoveries==

In 2022, the Perseverance Rover detected [[Chemistry:Organic compound|organic molecules]] in the crater.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://phys.org/news/2022-09-life-mars-nasa-perseverance-rover.amp | title=Did life ever exist on Mars? NASA's Perseverance rover finds organic matter in rock samples }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.space.com/perseverance-rover-mars-samples-rich-organics | title=Perseverance rover collects organics-rich Mars samples for future return to Earth | website=Space.com | date=15 September 2022 }}</ref>

Although it was believed that Jezero was a lake, Perseverance found igneous rocks.<ref> https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2022/pdf/1530.pdf</ref><ref>Schmidt, M., et al.  2022.  HIGHLY DIFFERENTIATED BASALTIC LAVAS EXAMINED BY PIXL IN JEZERO CRATER.  53rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.  1530.pdf</ref> The rocks were once molten and then slowly cooled. They contained the mineral olivine surrounded by the mineral pyroxene which happens in thick magma bodies.  Such a texture is called "Cumulate."<ref> {{Cite news |date=2021-12-16 |title=Nasa's Perseverance Mars rover finds its 'baseline' rocks |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59677383 |access-date=2023-08-21}}</ref> The rocks had also been changed by water since carbonate and sulfate minerals were also found.  The rocks studied were in location nicknamed "South Séítah."  "Séítah" (means "amidst the sand" in the Navajo language.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-12-16 |title=Nasa's Perseverance Mars rover finds its 'baseline' rocks |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59677383 |access-date=2023-08-21}}</ref> The Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL) was used for this analysis.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover Makes Surprising Discoveries |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-perseverance-mars-rover-makes-surprising-discoveries |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) |language=en-US}}</ref>

Perseverance detected many dust devils.  On a typical Martian day at least four dust devils pass Perseverance. At a peak hour long period just after noon, more than one per hour passes.  Perseverance made these observations mostly with its cameras and a group of sensors in the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA). MEDA includes wind sensors and light sensors.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |title=NASA's Perseverance Studies the Wild Winds of Jezero Crater |language=en-US |work=NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-perseverance-studies-the-wild-winds-of-jezero-crater?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nasajpl&utm_content=Day%20in%20Review%20-%206-1-22 |access-date=2023-08-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Newman |first1=Claire E. |last2=Hueso |first2=Ricardo |last3=Lemmon |first3=Mark T. |last4=Munguira |first4=Asier |last5=Vicente-Retortillo |first5=Álvaro |last6=Apestigue |first6=Víctor |last7=Martínez |first7=Germán M. |last8=Toledo |first8=Daniel |last9=Sullivan |first9=Rob |last10=Herkenhoff |first10=Ken E. |last11=de la Torre Juárez |first11=Manuel |last12=Richardson |first12=Mark I. |last13=Stott |first13=Alexander E. |last14=Murdoch |first14=Naomi |last15=Sanchez-Lavega |first15=Agustín |date=2022-05-27 |title=The dynamic atmospheric and aeolian environment of Jezero crater, Mars |journal=Science Advances |language=en |volume=8 |issue=21 |pages=eabn3783 |doi=10.1126/sciadv.abn3783 |issn=2375-2548 |pmc=9132482 |pmid=35613267|bibcode=2022SciA....8N3783N }}</ref>

==Interactive Mars map==
{{clr}}
{{Features and artificial objects on Mars}}
[[File:PIA24320-MarsLandingSites-20201216.jpg|thumb|center|600px|<div align="center">Mars Landing Sites (16 December 2020)</div>]]

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:PIA25068-MarsDustStorm-JezeroCrater-20220109.jpg|[[Astronomy:Climate of Mars|Dust storm on Mars]] - Jezero crater (white circle) (9 January 2022)
</gallery>

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Astrobiology}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Climate of Mars}}
* {{annotated link|Chemistry:Composition of Mars}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Exploration of Mars}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Geology of Mars}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Impact crater}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Inverted relief}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Lakes on Mars}}
* [[Astronomy:List of craters on Mars|List of craters on Mars]]
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Mars landing}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Water on Mars}}
{{div col end}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|25em}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite journal|title=Clay minerals in delta deposits and organic preservation potential on Mars|journal=Nature Geoscience|date=2008|last1=Ehlmann|first1=B.L. |last2=Mustard|first2=John F.|last3=Fassett|first3=Caleb I.|last4=Schon|first4=Samuel C.|last5=Head Iii|first5=James W.|last6=Des Marais|first6=David J.|last7=Grant|first7=John A.|last8=Murchie|first8=Scott L.|doi=10.1038/ngeo207|volume=1|pages=355–358|issue=6|bibcode = 2008NatGe...1..355E |url=https://authors.library.caltech.edu/34950/2/ngeo207-s1.pdf}}
*{{cite conference|url=http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2008/pdf/1354.pdf|conference=Lunar and Planetary Sciences conference|date=2008|title=Meander Loops and Point Bar Sequences – Evidence of a Stable Delta Plain Environment in Jezero crater|author=Schon|display-authors=0}}

==External links==
* [https://marsnext.jpl.nasa.gov/documents/LandingSiteWorksheet_Jezero_final.pdf Jezero Crater – DataSheet] (14 January 2017)
* [https://marsnext.jpl.nasa.gov/workshops/2015_08/20_Goudge_Jezero_Mars_2020_2nd_Workshop_for_Web.pdf Jezero Crater – Workshop Images/Details] (4 August 2015)
* [https://www.nasa.gov/perseverance ''Perseverance'' rover: Official website]
* [http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mars2020/ Mars 2020: Official website]
* [https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/mission/where-is-the-rover/ Mars 2020: Location Maps]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/136797589@N04/34024740002/ Video – FlyOver bw (01:20)] and [https://www.flickr.com/photos/seandoran/40295668634/ color (02:20)] (SDoran; 21 April 2017) 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzeQ1aha5D4 Video – Mars 2020 Site News (01:00)] (NASA; 19 November 2018)
* [https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/null/nasa-selects-jezero-crater-as-landing-site-for-mars-2020-rover/vp-BBPSW23 Video – Mars 2020 Site News (00:50)] (MSN; 19 November 2018)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnZ_sidmr4Y Video – Mars 2020: Jezero crater flyover (02:13)] (NASA; 13 December 2018)
* {{YouTube|4czjS9h4Fpg|Video − Mars 2020: Landing on Mars (3:25)}} (NASA; 18 February 2021)
* [https://archive.today/20140627092658/https://webcast.stsci.edu/webcast/detail.xhtml?talkid=4006 Video (60:00) – ''Minerals and the Origins of Life''] – ([[Biography:Robert Hazen|Robert Hazen]]; [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]; April 2014)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNjuz6MO0eU Video (86:49) –  ''Search for Life in the Universe''] – ([[Organization:NASA|NASA]]; July 2014)

{{Mars 2020}}
{{Geography of Mars|topography}}

[[Category:Impact craters on Mars]]
[[Category:Syrtis Major quadrangle]]

{{Sourceattribution|Jezero (crater)}}