Scientists delving into the Martian surface discovered an interesting rock formation that greeted them with a smile.
The particular formation was snapped by the scientists and shared by the University of Arizona on January 25. The specific snap appears to be the face of a huge teddy bear on Mars that has two full eyes, a curved mouth, and a button nose. Live Science reports that, according to the university, the photo was taken on December 12, 2022 when NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) traversed at a distance of around 251 kilometers above Mars.
Martian Teddy Bear
The rock formation is likely to be an ancient crater with a broken hill at its center. This is according to the statement of the HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera blog.
According to the HiRISE release, the maw and snout of the bear are made of a collapsed v-shaped structure. On the other hand, its face outline could have resulted from sediment settling into a subterranean crater. The scientists suggested that the particular collapse structure could actually be a mud or volcanic vent.
Viewers of the sight could observe the emergence of the bear's face from dusty crevices and rock collections because of pareidolia, which is a psychological inclination to find significance in random or sporadic photos or sounds.
HiRISE
According to Interesting Engineering, the HiRISE is slightly over five feet in length. It is a strong camera that has a focal length of 12 meters and is stationed on the craft's Nadir side. This is done so that the camera can continuously monitor Mars.
The camera is equipped with 14 different detectors. Each one has a filter cover within the blue-green, red, or near-infrared bands of wavelength. The camera is capable of acquiring images that are as heavy as 28 GB in as little as six seconds.
Mysteries and Oddities in Mars
Interesting Engineering reports that the interesting Martian sight should not come across as a surprise to humans. As humans continue to embark on a journey to know more about the solar system, it is no surprise that the Red Planet has been continuously observed, with surveillance here and there. Even the smallest findings that resemble earth in any way get detected.
In fact, just last year, a tiny crevice that had a width of just 11 inches became an internet sensation as a possible entry point to Mars. Other than this, there have also been blueberries, bones, spoons, lights, and even a woman spotted across the Martian surface, as noted by Gizmodo.
Considering how Mars is consistently being observed, it is not surprising that such optical sights emerge from time to time on the Red Planet's rocky and barren surface.
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