QUESTION:
Is there a better way to name all the rocks?  If NASA keeps naming the rocks
as the way NASA did in the past few days, NASA will run out of names.  As
NASA knows, Mars is a big planet too.  Indeed NASA can name the rock after
the date the rock is analyzed.  For example, the rock number 97-07-08 will
mean that rock is discovered on July 08, 1997.  In case many rocks are
analyzed on the same day, NASA can put the time on the rock too.  For
example, 97-07-08-18 (18 hours or 6.00 pm) By giving the rock a specific
number, I think it would be more convenient for the international community
to follow.

ANSWER from John Moreau on July 16, 1997:
We probably don't have to worry about Pathfinder scientists running out of
names for rocks at the landing site since not all rocks present will be
analyzed by the APXS instrument or referenced in IMP camera images.  But
this is a good suggestion.

ANSWER from Marc Siegel on July 18, 1997:
Cartoon names are easier to use then names like 232 degrees west, azimuth
12.2. Besides, they are fun for the scientists. The imaging scientists are
the ones who are choosing the names of the rocks.