Then there's this rock. It's a chunk of the 1.7 Ga Mendenhall Gneiss. Young compared to elsewhere on North America, but the oldest in California. From the time of Rodinia, it represents a mid-continental sediment when Australia, Antarctica, or South China was attached to the west of California.

I found this big chunk of cumulate gabbro in the western San Gabriel Mountains that has these big chunky andesine or labradorite crystals in it. I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with it, but it's fun to look at :-)

Backyard fireworks to celebrate whatever you may be celebrating today.

❤️ in a rock. flic.kr/p/2so7G7q

Neat examples of honeycomb weathering (tafoni) in gabbro rock, Cape Neddick, Maine. flic.kr/p/2snMpN3 flic.kr/p/2snKpf9 flic.kr/p/2snEzsj flic.kr/p/2snMpFe

I'm not sure why this plank looks so despondent, but I can feel it's pain....

That's cute, they thought that'd stop me from checking out the rocks past this point ;-)

A bunny that was not interested in letting me get any closer for a better picture. flic.kr/p/2snhmtA

A crunchy bit of white rock, crushed by the Perseverance Rover driving over it. Images taken with SuperCam and MastCam-Z on Sol 1908 (yestersol). flic.kr/p/2sn8Tfy flic.kr/p/2sn8PBM

New York City on the night of June 24, 2026. Taken by Chris Williams aboard the International Space Station. flic.kr/p/2smT19E

Checked out a rock from Southern New Hampshire. A ~400 Ma quartz monzodiorite. Lots of garnet and sphene (titanite). Has big chunky megacrysts of microcline. flic.kr/p/2smgjDo flic.kr/p/2smn83T flic.kr/p/2smmVm5 flic.kr/p/2smgjF7

Some more glamour shots of some talc-actinolite rocks that I found recently. flic.kr/p/2skLQu6 flic.kr/p/2skJEop flic.kr/p/2skKHBE

And another chunk of serpentine rock. This one has some other stuff going on, too, with some actinolite (I think), talc, and calcite. It comes from a former asbestos quarry, so it gets to stay living outside... flic.kr/p/2skHSsE flic.kr/p/2skC1Ew

Some nice bits of serpentine I found nearby. flic.kr/p/2skHDQj flic.kr/p/2skHSKZ flic.kr/p/2skHDNf My favorite rock is peridotite (or anything representative of the mantle), but if you add water and mash it up a bit it's still cool.

Moon with strong atmospheric refraction, June 16th from the International Space Station. flic.kr/p/2skmubp

Airglow and Star Trails. Thirty second exposure from the International Space Station on June 16th. flic.kr/p/2skp56m

This is a real picture! This is the Moon as it was seen by the Artemis II astronauts on April 7th while in eclipse behind the Moon. flic.kr/p/2skfiLc flic.kr/p/2skd7Gd

Damnit, I knew I should've shorted SPCX...

A closeup MAHLI image of the polygonal fractures, Sol 4931 via the Mars Curiosity Rover. White balanced color. The navcam view of the arm out during that arm backbone doesn't even look real... flic.kr/p/2sjTHGe flic.kr/p/2sjMRyw

I can take a better picture later, but what do you think I've got here? Its been sitting in some alluvial deposits for a few thousand years but probably washed down from either the San Gabriel Mountains or the Sierra Pelona Mountains in Los Angeles County.

More polygonal fractures near the Mars Curiosity Rover imaged on Sol 4930 (yestersol) using MastCam. flic.kr/p/2sjToGg

These flowers and berries and some beautiful color. Had to share :-)

I'm not sure if it's serpentinite or actinolite schist that just looks like serpentinite (both exist in the spot I found them in). flic.kr/p/2sjz1Hv flic.kr/p/2sjyeXG flic.kr/p/2sjyeY8

This is the MastCam drive direction mosaic. Lots of lineations going in different directions. flic.kr/p/2sjFwKD

A wild workspace in front of the Mars Curiosity Rover following its Sol 4928 drive this week. Check out all those polygonal fractures! flic.kr/p/2sjzEfy

Curiosity just pulled up to some wild terrain on its Sol 4928 drive this week. Check out all those polygonal fractures, linear features, and all the other stuff going on! flic.kr/p/2sjtA9y

And a zoom into the waxing crescent Moon. flic.kr/p/2sjt7fN

The Moon and Venus flanked the Beehive Cluster last night for a nice view! Taken from Los Angeles. flic.kr/p/2sjooQ2

This rock has seen some stresses and pressures. Poor little guy.

Sikorsky S-76 belonging to Coulson Aviation (wildfire response) landing at the fire camp next to JPL a few minutes ago.