NASA attracts a lot of attention with its space-related endeavors, especially when it comes to the surfaces of planets. This time, NASA captured a disturbing image of a terrain known as “araneiform” on the planet Mars using the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
The HiRise camera captured the spider-like image on the Martian surface!
With its research efforts and the images it captures, NASA manages to pique the interest of people of all ages. This time, the agency has grabbed attention with an image from the red planet, Mars. NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured a chilling image of a terrain known as “araneiform” on the planet’s surface.
While there may not be actual arachnids crawling on Mars, there are distinctive features known as “spiders.” Similarly, the term “araneiform” carries the meaning of “spider-like.” The image was captured using the HiRise camera located on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), which is operated by a team at the University of Arizona.
As soon as NASA's spacecraft released the capsule from Asteroid Bennu back to Earth, it headed towards its new mission, Asteroid Apophis.
This image has two significant features. First, there are formations resembling clusters of arachnids crawling on the surface. Second, there are shapes that resemble dried mud. In fact, these “spiders” reveal a natural process occurring on Mars.
These patterns are the result of the sublimation of ice beneath the surface. For those unfamiliar with the term, sublimation is the direct transition of a substance from a solid to a gas. Similar formations have appeared in different regions of Mars before.
Researchers have also identified similar formations in cold environments on Earth exposed to the freeze and thaw cycle of water. The HiRise team suggests that scientists will gather a lot of information about climate conditions and the distribution of ice by studying these shapes.
So, what are your thoughts on the Martian spider-like image? Don’t forget to share your opinions with us in the comments section!
