List of rocks on Mars
Wikimedia list article

Martian rocks and outcrops have been studied in-situ by various landers and rovers. While many of the rocks identified on the Martian surface are similar to each other, some have been considered scientifically important or otherwise notable and have been subjected to more extensive study or public interest.
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 among researchers. Often rocks are named after the children or family members of astronauts or NASA employees.
The rocks at the landing site of the Sojourner rover were given names of cartoon characters. Among them were Pop Tart, Ender, mini-Matterhorn, Wedge, Baker's Bench, Scooby Doo, Yogi, Barnacle Bill, Pooh Bear, Piglet, the Lamb, the Shark, Ginger, Souffle, Casper, Moe, and Stimpy. A dune was called Mermaid Dune, and a pair of hills were named Twin Peaks.
Sojourner rover (Mars Pathfinder 1997):
Barnacle Bill
Yogi
Spirit rover (Mars Exploration Rover, 2004–2010):
Adirondack
Home Plate
Pot of Gold
Opportunity rover (Mars Exploration Rover, 2004–2018):
Block Island
Bounce
El Capitan
Heat Shield
Last Chance
Mackinac Island
Oileán Ruaidh
Curiosity rover (Mars Science Laboratory, 2012–present):
Bathurst Inlet
Goulburn
Hottah
Jake Matijevic
Link
Rocknest
Rocknest 3
Tintina
N165 ("Coronation" rock)
Perseverance rover (Mars 2020, 2020–present):
Cheyava Falls
See also
References
External links
Mars - Geologic Map (USGS, 2014) (original / crop / full / video (00:56)).
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “List of rocks on Mars” as wikimedia list article. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the general reference register because the source frames it as wikimedia list article. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 30, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q2351678. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1997, 2004, 2010 and 2018.
A concise general-reference account can conceal disagreements about scope, terminology or the weight assigned to individual sources. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “List of rocks on Mars”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow List of rocks on Mars primary sources, List of rocks on Mars archive and List research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “List of rocks on Mars”?
- Which cited source is closest to the event, object or claim?
- What terminology or title could unlock a more precise catalogue search?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “List of rocks on Mars” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.