One of the most recent images returned from Mars' Curiosity rover reveals an intriguing structure in the rocks: what appears to be a neatly carved out gateway nestled in the Martian landscape.
We're nearly inclined to believe that the gateway doppelgänger leads to a Martinian refuge or a portal to another Universe completely. This is also giving us 'tunnel to the centre of the globe' vibes.
At the
very least, the image and the geological structure it depicts appear to be
enough to inspire at least one science-fiction film.
The
considerably more rational individuals on Reddit, on the other hand, have
suggested that this is most likely a shear fracture: the consequence of some
form of tension on the rock ripping part of it off, possibly aided by a
marsquake or two.
Indeed,
the greatest temblor ever recorded on Mars occurred on May 4 of this year, and
scientists are still trying to figure out where it occurred and what caused it.
Furthermore,
while the door-like rock formation may appear to be life-size in our
imaginations, the cavity visible in real life could be only a few centimetres
or inches tall, though it's difficult to tell from the photo.
A larger, colourized version of the original image may
be found here. The doorway shape may be found near the top of the composite
image, just to the left of centre.
On 7 May 2022, the Mast Camera on board Curiosity
captured this photograph near a geological formation known as Greenheugh
Pediment.
We've been treated to some very bizarre and
fascinating images of Mars in the years that we've had access to close-ups of the
red planet from landers and orbiters: craters filled with ice, strange
chevron-shaped rock formations, hollowed-out mountains, and plenty more.
It's vital not to get too carried away with what hazy
photographs might sometimes reveal when it comes to scary discoveries in space
that look to mimic 'alien' buildings.
You may recall China's Yutu 2 rover spotting a
bizarre, cube-shaped object on the Moon last year. After further study, it was
discovered that the 'alien home' was simply another rock, with the cuboid shape
created by light and perspective manipulations.
Similarly, we anticipate that this mysterious gateway will eventually have an ordinary explanation... but in the meanwhile, we're having a lot of fun speculating.
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