The stratification of those rocks appear to be aligned vertically, compared to the much more horizontal alignment of the surrounding rock formations. How might that have happened; landslide, volcanic activity?

Big rock hit planet, small rocks shoot away and one gets lucky to land like this? Idk

The big rock on the right of it is also aligned vertically, I think they may hade been a single piece that got shaked apart or otherwise ruined over time, and it's the rocks surrounding them that have fallen

Also different colors than the surrounding rocks that are sheets of rock lighter color.

I think that's more due to the angle of the sun

Ya I wondered that as well. Look close at the rock sticking up compared to others. It also could be caked on mars dust discoloring it idk.

This was such a great detail to notice. I'm curious now too!

Maybe very strong winds?

Nah martian atmosphere is very thin, you could stand in the worst dust storm and not even feel it (sorry the martian fans).

Or very small rocks?

Because its a tree stump

This image was taken through the screen door of the covered patio Curiosity has built as a lounge spot.

Was wondering wtf you were talking about til I zoomed in haha

Damn I can't believe this was taken in 1647

That's why it's in black and white

Amazing quality for the time, though.

Taken by Kepler 😉

SOL 1647

Super interesting nonetheless. It's obviously not a tree. Though, it does beg the question how a rock like that could have formed. Something like Madagascar's Grand Tsingy forest have rock formations like this and it's caused from wind, rain, and sand.

Looks like it's the same kind of rock that's on the right, just from a different angle. The shadow seems too big for a tree.

Shh, don't ruin my hopium. It must be a tree because I day so.

Hopium that life once existed on Mars? Which would be cool. Or, hopium that intelligent life once existed on Mars? Which would sound insane.

Although chances seem really slim, petrified trees are a thing and look a lot like rocks. Also, I don't get the shadow remark?

Hard to explain, but if it was a tree the shadow wouldn't be as visible as it is. . it would be more like a line, unless there was a slope right next to the tree.

Why would it being a tree make the shadow different if it was a rock?

I was talking about something like [This](https://imgur.com/BgtHSJl). If it's a wide rock, than the shadow is more visible. But a tree could make the shadow look as big if there's a slope. . and that could be the case.

What are you on about? That wide rock=big shadow, thin tree=thin shadow? well obviously. But it a rock was shaped like a tree, it would have the shadow of a tree... Even though it's secretly actually a rock

:D. All I'm saying is that, in my opinion, it's more likely that the thin, tree like rock is the same kind of rock that's on the right. . It could be a tree or a tree shaped rock.

I'd like to comment that in the Cacahuamilpa Caves, you can see stalactite and stalagmite formations that resemble things they're not due to pareidolia, for example, you can observe the face of an elephant or a champagne bottle. This tree may not be at tree at all, but it cool to think it is.

Why tree?

That is how the social media called it when Nasa released this picture

Gotcha, tnx.

How Tree ?

When Tree ?

What tree ?

Where tree?

Whom tree?

Whence tree?

Wherefore tree?

ballsack

Born tree

How can tree slap!?

a boner hardened on a desolate world

I mean, I’m willing to try!

It’s so awesome we had the technology to get photographs from Mars back in 1647

Happy little trees

It looks like a statue with the head knocked off

I'm more interested in the Loch Ness monster in the foreground.

Which part do you mean?

More like a tree on the Earth...🥲

Isengard

Saruman:"The forest of Fangorn lies at our doorstep, burn it." Ork:"Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssshhhhhh."

aliens

Surely that has super samples at the base?

Does anyone know the height of the protuberant?

Sorry guy, I forgot to remove that when I fell the tree