The European Space Agency (ESA) has captured fascinating images of seasonal eruptions of carbon dioxide gas on Mars, revealing dark, spindly formations resembling spiders in the Inca City region of the planet’s southern polar region.
These spider-like formations, measuring between 0.03 to 0.6 miles across, are actually channels of gas originating from melting layers of carbon dioxide ice during the Martian spring. As the gas expands and rises, it explodes out of the ice layers, carrying dark dust from the surface and creating intricate spidery patterns.
Inca City, also known as Angustus Labyrinthus, is believed to be part of a circular feature that may be an old impact crater. The geometric ridges in the region are thought to be magma intrusions rising through a cracked and heated crust of Mars, possibly as a result of an impact by a space rock.
The images were taken by ESA’s Mars Express orbiter and the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, showing hundreds of these black ‘spiders’ in 2020. They are the remnants of dusty gas geysers erupting through the Red Planet’s surface ice in the spring.
This discovery sheds light on the dynamic and ever-changing nature of Mars’ geological features, providing valuable insights into the planet’s history and geological processes. The ESA’s ongoing mission to explore and study Mars continues to uncover new and exciting discoveries, deepening our understanding of this enigmatic planet.
“Zombie enthusiast. Subtly charming travel practitioner. Webaholic. Internet expert.”