NASA's Curiosity Rover Finds A 'Doorway' On Mars: What Is This Strange Structure?
A rectangular opening on Mars' surface looks a basement doorway, perhaps leading to an underground civilisation? Or not! The image in question was taken by Curiosity on May 7 as it ascended Mount Sharp.
NASA's Curiosity Rover seems to have found a "doorway" on Mars. A rectangular opening on Mars' surface looks a basement doorway, perhaps leading to an underground civilisation... Or not!
The image in question was taken by Curiosity on May 7 as it ascended Mount Sharp. If you think the Earth is flat and most politicians are lizards, you're most likely to believe this is an underground bunker for secret alien meetings. Unfortunately, it's not.
NASA
What is this eerie doorway on Mars?
According to Ashwin Vasavada from the Mars Science Laboratory, the rectangular opening is simply "the space between two fractures in a rock." In conversation with Gizmodo, Vasavada added that the area imaged by Curiosity's Mastcam "has formed from ancient sand dunes." These dunes piled on each other over centuries.
Owing to the pressure from this constant piling, the sandstone essentially fractured at different spots. So, that door is not a door, but in fact a small opening in the rock, which Vasavada thinks is about 30 centimetres high.
NASA
Also read: Strange 'Claw Marks' on Martian Surface Spotted By ESA¡¯s Mars Orbiter
Usually, these fractures in Martian sand dunes are vertical. In this case, it appears that there were two vertical fractures, and the middle piece has been removed. Or perhaps it's a single vertical fracture and its blocks have moved a little bit, Vasavada explained.
NASA
If you were expecting Curiosity to finally make first contact with Martian underground aliens, this is bad news. On the other hand, it appears that Mars is completely desolate and humans can chart it out as they please.
Also read: Scientists Discover Astonishing Aurora On Mars Never Seen Before On Any Planet
The Curiosity first landed on Mars in 2012 and since then has been roaming the desolate dunes of Mars alone. So far, it has travelled 27.84 kilometres over 3,472 Martian days (called "sols").
What do you think about the human tendency to see familiar objects in unfamiliar terrain? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.
References
Hurler, K. (2022, May 13). NASA¡¯s Curiosity Rover Spotted a ¡°Doorway¡± on Mars. Gizmodo.
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