When this phenomenon first appeared, the images caused a huge fuss. After all, the Martian soil seemed “infested” by giant spiders. However, these spider figures have an explanation. So, what are these supposed “spiders”?
April showers bring May flowers to Earth and “spiders” to Mars
Small, seasonal, spider-like spots have been detected sprouting from cracks on the surface of Mars.
The European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter captured new images of small dark spots that resemble spiders moving around the Martian region known as Inca City, near the South Pole of the Red Planet.
This one phenomenon arises when spring sunlight warms layers of carbon dioxide deposited during the dark winter Martian.
In turn, the carbon dioxide ice in the lower layer turns into gas, which accumulates and eventually ruptures the overlying ice up to 1 meter thick, according to an ESA statement.
The released gas carries dark dust from the underlying soil upward, forcing it to burst from the upper layers of ice like water from a geyser before settling on the surface. This creates the cracked and sandy formations measuring between 45 meters and 1 kilometer in diameter.
Earth's Inca ruins mirrored on Martian soil
The Inca City of Mars, formally known as Angustus Labyrinthus, displays a linear, almost geometric network of summits like the Inca ruins on Earth. It is part of a circular feature about 86 km wide, suggesting it may be an impact crater with ridges formed by lava that rises through the fractured Martian crust and erodes over time.
We still don't know exactly how the Inca City was formed. It could be that the sand dunes turned to stone over time. Perhaps material like magma or sand is seeping through fractured sheets of Martian rock. Or, the ridges may be 'eskers', winding structures related to glaciers.
ESA officials say in the statement.
Therefore, if you are looking at Mars and “something familiar jumps out at you”, believe me, it is pure coincidence and an optical illusion.
