Mount Sharp is a large mountain located in the center of Gale Crater on Mars. It rises about 5.5 kilometers (18,000 feet) high and is composed of layers of sedimentary rock, which provide valuable information about the planet's geological history. The mountain was explored by the Curiosity rover, which landed on Mars in 2012. As the rover ascends the slopes of Mount Sharp, it studies the different rock layers to understand the past environmental conditions on Mars, including the presence of water and the potential for past life.