Mysterious 'Spiders' on Mars: A Closer Look at the Unusual Landscape of Inca City

Sunday - April 28 2024, 14:15 UTC - 6 months ago

The European Space Agency's Mars Express has captured an image of 'spider' patterns on the southern polar region of Mars, which are actually a result of escaping gas and material. These 'spiders' provide a sign of underlying structures present on Mars, with the area known as Inca City holding a particularly fascinating mystery. The circular 'walls' of Inca City were formed by a massive crater from an impact and the swirling patterns seen in the middle section of the image were created by lava tamping. These images give scientists a closer look at the unique and ever-changing landscape of Mars.

On Sunday, April 28, 2024, the European Space Agency's Mars Express captured a fascinating image of the southern polar region of Mars. Among the breathtaking landscape, the image reveals mysterious dark spots scattered throughout, giving the appearance of spider-like patterns etched into the surface. However, these 'spiders' are not actual arachnids, but rather a result of a unique process occurring on the red planet.

The dark spots are formed when layers of carbon dioxide, known as dry ice, are deposited over the winter months. As spring approaches and the sun shines on the layers, the dry ice turns into gas and builds up beneath the overlying ice. This buildup eventually bursts through the ice, dragging dark material up to the surface and creating the distinctive spider-shaped patterns below. The escaping gas shoots out in tall fountains or geysers, before settling down again and leaving the dark spots on the surface.

The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has also captured images of these spider-like patterns, providing a closer look at the intricate channels and ridges created by the escaping gas. These images reveal the spiders' tendril-like shape, sparking intrigue and further study into the underlying structures of Mars.

The dark spots, or 'spiders', can be seen all over the Mars Express image, with most concentrated in the dark region to the left of Inca City. This unique area of the red planet, nicknamed Inca City due to its geometric network of ridges, was originally discovered in 1972 by NASA's Mariner 9 probe. The reason for the ridges and their origins are still a topic of speculation among scientists, with possible explanations ranging from hardened sand dunes to seeping magma or glacier structures known as 'eskers'.

The circular 'walls' of Inca City, spanning 86 km in diameter, add to the mystery of this intriguing landscape. These walls are believed to be part of a massive crater formed by an impact from a rocky object colliding with the planet's surface. As a result, the surrounding plain is riddled with faults and filled with rising lava, which has gradually eroded over time.

In the middle section of the image, the landscape shifts to a more circular and swirled pattern, resembling the design of marble. However, this effect is not caused by silt erosion, but rather by the tamped motion of the lava beneath the surface. These swirling patterns provide further evidence of the rich and diverse geological history of Mars, begging for continued exploration and discovery by future missions.

This new view of Inca City and its mysterious 'spiders' offers a unique glimpse into the complex and ever-changing landscape of Mars. As scientists continue to study and analyze these images, perhaps we will one day unravel the enigma of this fascinating red planet.