By: Neal-Spence
License: Copyright, All Rights Reserved

Uploaded: 6 Apr 2026
Last Updated: 6 Apr 2026

63 megapixels
6,631 x 9,439 pixels
22.1 in X 31.5 in at 300dpi

These images were taken on Sol 1424 (February 21, 2025). At this point in the mission, Perseverance was exploring the "Witch Hazel Hill" area, part of the margin unit along the rim of Jezero Crater. The Drill Hole: The central feature is a circular borehole, approximately 1.6 centimetres (0.6 inches) in diameter. This is the result of the rover’s rotary-percussive drill extracting a cylindrical rock core for future return to Earth. Cuttings (Tailing's): Surrounding the hole is a "halo" of fine-grained, light-toned pulverized rock dust and fragments (cuttings) kicked up during the drilling process. The contrast between the bright interior dust and the darker, weathered surface of the rock is a key detail for geologists. The image is a composite close-up frames, with the top section showing the site under natural Martian sunlight, while the bottom section is illuminated by WATSON's internal LEDs, providing a clearer look at the textures inside the borehole and the shadows of the tailing's Original individual image credit : NASA JPL-Caltech Download here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/terraform-mars/55189970387/in/photostream/