The Perserverance [rover](https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/spacecraft/instruments/) has an instrument that measures X-ray fluorescence. What is that?
In: Technology
Fluorescence is when you shine a light at an object, the object absorbs that light, and then shines back light at a different frequency. For example, black light paint absorbs ultraviolet light and shines back visible light.
The PIXL device on the Perseverance rover shines x-rays at the target and then records what light shines back. The exact wavelength of the light that comes back can tell us what it’s made of.
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