45 Strange Objects Discovered On Mars
Mars is the present star of the show in outer space, which is one of Earth’s greatest mysteries. Scientists and astronomy buffs alike are baffled by the myriad strange occurrences that have been reported from Mars. See for yourself what all the fuss is about by taking a closer look! It’s time to show you 45 of the weirdest things we’ve found on Mars.
The Ancient God
Earthlings (in case there are aliens out there) prefer to look for God everywhere—in nature, in ourselves, and even on Mars. View this Neo-Assyrian god-like rock that was discovered on the planet’s surface below.
The Ancient God
A phenomenon known as pareidolia has been attributed to the sighting, in which one sees a human face in an inanimate object. Or perhaps the extraterrestrials secretly worship their own deities.
A Wild Donut
In a picture obtained by NASA’s Opportunity Rover, a donut-shaped object was observed. Before and after photographs showed an object that had emerged out of nowhere! The enigmatic music begins…
A Wild Donut
According to NASA, this thing is not an alien fungus, but rather a donut-shaped rock that the rover accidentally knocked loose during its exploration of the surface of Mars. There is little doubt that the aliens are fans of glazed donuts.
A Hovering Spoon
On the surface of Mars, a spoon was observed hovering above the surface. The spoon-like item can be seen levitating towards the center of the photo obtained by the Curiosity Mars rover.
A Hovering Spoon
On Mars, gravity isn’t as powerful as it is on Earth, and this causes this phenomenon to occur. Fragile buildings like this one can withstand more pressure without collapsing to the ground as a result.
Blueberries
To put it simply, there is no way a single blueberry could have found its way to the surface of the Red Planet. Nevertheless, a surface photo revealed a vast field of spherical blue rocks, which from a distance resembled berries!
Blueberries
If you happen to find yourself on this planet by accident while scientists are still attempting to figure out what the blueberries in space are and why they are there, it is strongly recommended that you do not try to consume any of them.
The Hole
It appears that Mars has a “hol-(e)-y” problem, but it’s not a religious one. A completely circular crater near the planet’s surface is shown in a shot taken close to its south pole.
The Hole
The frozen carbon dioxide at the bottom of the crater is estimated to be several hundred meters across. We have only observed it thus far from orbit, thus it is impossible to calculate the precise number.
An Iguana
There has been no evidence of life on Mars until now. Even so, strange things have been spotted in the sky. This picture depicts what appears to be an iguana.
An Iguana
Even though some have claimed that it’s only a rock shaped like an iguana, others aren’t so sure. UFO Daily Sightings Blog creator Scott C. Waring said that believing it’s just a rock would be a really narrow-minded view.
The Great Pyramid
In order to construct their magnificent monuments, the ancient Egyptians must have looked far beyond our solar system. Anxious conspiracy theorists and UFO enthusiasts took notice of the mysterious ‘pyramid’ depicted in the image below.
The Great Pyramid
Ancient civilizations may have delivered a message in this form. Curiosity’s Dr. Jim Bell says it’s just a rock, but the alien notion sounds like a better story to sell to the general audience.
The Kirkwood Spheres
The riddle of a snapshot taken in 2012 has not been solved to this day. About a decade ago, the Opportunity rover took a picture of this unusual rock formation near Mark’s Kirkwood outcropping.
The Kirkwood Spheres
Contrary to popular belief, NASA has determined that these iron-rich growths do not resemble blueberries at all, despite their striking resemblance. As well as varying in their concentrations, distributions and structures; Weirdos everywhere are going to love these puzzling cells!
Mini Twisters
Whether you’re on Earth or in space, you seem to be pursued by demons. On the Martian surface, the presence of dust devils has been established as a hazardous phenomenon that people in the future will need to learn how to deal with.
Mini Twisters
Observations by the Opportunity rover proved the existence of Martian tornadoes, which had been hypothesized by scientists. To combat dust devils, all of the rovers that visit the site have been outfitted.
Is it Beaker?
There was a sense that the Muppets’ charm had traveled from Earth to Mars. Beaker from the Muppets is clearly seen on the surface of Mars in a photograph shot from the planet’s south pole.
Is it Beaker?
It has been determined that the reason for the appearance of this animation can be attributed to regions of frozen carbon dioxide that are packed full of mesas and pits that can sometimes form intriguing shapes.
The Jake Matijevich Rock
Not to be confused with all-around hero Dwayne Johnson, this rock is one of the most recognizable on the Martian surface. It has gained notoriety as a result of its mineral composition, which is typical of the Earth’s core. For the time being, researchers are at a loss to explain…
The Jake Matijevich Rock
NASA engineer Jake Matijevich, who was a contributor to the creation of the Sojourner, Spirit, Curiosity, and Opportunity rovers, is being honored with the naming of a rock in his honor.
Bigfoot or a Statue?
It seems like Earthly mysteries have also been making secret sojourns to outer space. In 2007, the Spirit Rover captured yet another unusual photo. What you’re seeing showcases some rock formations that look like a statue, or maybe even Bigfoot!
Bigfoot or a Statue?
UFO Daily Sightings has blamed the aliens, stating that they put up a female statue there. However, The Planetary Society debunked that claim, saying that it is most likely just an optical illusion.
The Egg Rock
This smooth meteorite was discovered by the Curiosity rover in 2016. The egg rock was spotted at the base of Mars’ Mount Sharp in the Gale crater and is made of rare iron and nickel.
The Egg Rock
The golf ball-sized object might resemble an egg, but there is nothing food-like about the rock. According to scientists, the meteorite may have fallen to the surface of Mars millions of years ago. At least it got to keep its cool name!
Something Shiny
In 2021, the Curiosity Rover managed to capture an unfamiliar and shiny object on the red planet. Scientists have since confirmed that the strange sighting is most likely a part of geology on Mars.
Something Shiny
The most astounding part of this finding is that the entire photograph covers just 1.6 inches, so the fact that the rover was able to pick it up at all is pretty impressive! What do you think it resembles?
A Human Bone
This was an image that set the conspiracy theorists’ minds on fire and gave birth to many new ideas about the galaxy. Many believe that this fractured resembles a human bone!
A Human Bone
Despite what the object looks like, it is in actuality just a bone-shaped rock. Even knowing that, it’s hard to distinguish between a human bone and this suspicious-looking rock. Or maybe the ancients just got there before us, right?
Avalanche
A Martian avalanche has been caught on camera several times. Similar to how it happens on Earth, once the weather warms up and the ice (made from carbon dioxide) starts melting, avalanches are triggered on the cliffs of Mars.
Avalanche
These icefalls were first sighted on Mars back in 2008 and the most recent image was taken in 2020. There is no doubt that the phenomenon is a spectacular sight to behold, especially on the Red Planet.
Tadpole
It seems Mars is pretty good at deceiving humans, and that’s no surprise considering its namesake is the Roman god of war. This captured photo shows a crater that resembles a tadpole to an astonishing degree.
Tadpole
After much deliberation, it was determined that the tail slithering out of the body was actually just water movement and Mars remained as amphibian-less as ever. Sorry to disappoint!
Dragon Scales
These dragon scales are in actuality anything but. They’re in fact part of a hillside that looks like scales due to water erosion. Scientists are still at loose ends trying to figure out the nature of the water that caused the erosion.
Dragon Scales
Some experts believe that it could’ve been the dry ice sliding down the mountain. Whatever the truth is, we think that this looks like a close-up of a scene out of Game of Thrones. Who’s with us?
Crab Creature
At first glance, this photo — captured by the Curiosity rover — appears to be an ordinary shot of the surface of Mars. But a closer inspection reveals what looks like a strange creature hiding in the creases of the cliffs.
Crab Creature
A Facebook group resorted to decoding the mystery themselves and zoomed in on the strange creature, finding it to resemble a crab monster. The scientists have since debunked this and attributed the image to a play of lights and shadows.
The Kissy Face
The phenomenon of pareidolia is a regular occurrence while going through the photos taken on Mars. This photo shows some sort of humanoid making a kissy face! To whom, we can’t really say.
The Kissy Face
Even though it is true that the most hardcore skeptics will find it hard to argue with this likeness, in actuality, it’s just another rock formation. Or maybe it was Valentine’s Day in outer space that day!
Martian Morse Code
It seems like the Men in Black might have to get back to business because this looks serious. The Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this unusual photo of some odd formations on the surface of Mars that could pass as Morse code.
Martian Morse Code
Before you start trying to decode this sequence, NASA has confirmed that the limited sand on Mars has caused the dunes here to create dots and dash shapes. We were also hoping for a cooler response.
Waffle Island
Egg rocks and now waffle island. It appears that the Martians are preparing for a lavish brunch or something. This waffle-shaped island, which was snapped by the Reconnaissance orbiter in 2014, measures around 1.2 miles wide.
Waffle Island
The area appears to look like one of our favorite breakfasts because it’s located in an area with lots of lava flows, giving that zig-zaggy waffle look. Regardless, it does look good enough to pour maple syrup on, don’t you agree?
A Human Face
This photo, taken by the Viking 1 and 2 orbiters, is probably one of the most famous shots from the Red Planet. Why? Well, take a look for yourself and see. Do you also see those masked faces on the surface that seem to jut out of the ground?
A Human Face
These photos, when initially taken, were with low resolution and clearly depicted human faces. However, newer and high-resolution images show that it’s actually a mountain structure that doesn’t resemble a face at all!
Evidence of Water
Humans’ obsession with Mars has only skyrocketed over the last few decades. One of the biggest questions with this planet is whether there is any liquid water. Some scientists have even suggested that the entire planet has been made up of numerous lakes.
Evidence of Water
Recent evidence indicates that liquid water did exist on the planet for about a million years, and didn’t all dry up all at once. The water exists majorly as ice today or in small quantities as vapor in the atmosphere.
Light on the Horizon
Apparently, seeing a light on the horizon on Mars does not indicate one is dying, but instead was taken as a sign of life on the Red planet. This photo taken by the Curiosity rover in 2014, shows what appears to be light on the horizon, which gave birth to multiple alien rumors.
Light on the Horizon
NASA researchers were quick to dispel the extraterrestrial enthusiasts and clarified that the light was most likely caused by cosmic ray hits.
A Little Bit Fishy
At first glance, it looks like there’s a fish on Mars, and a second look reveals the same result. Alas, it’s not a fish but instead a rock shaped like a fish fossil, confusing researchers and exciting the conspiracy theorists all at once!
A Little Bit Fishy
Talking about this faux fish, NASA responded, “Mars likely never had enough oxygen in its atmosphere and elsewhere to support more complex organisms. Thus, large fossils are not likely.” Say goodbye to Nemo on Mars!
Lava Coils
The most beautiful patterns ever created are found in nature. And it’s true for those found on Mars too. First found in 2012, these lava coils resemble corkscrew snail shells, and are the result of ancient lava flows on Mars.
Lava Coils
The Martian lava coils are about 100 feet across which is much larger than their terrestrial counterparts that are often only a foot or so in size. It seems like Mars has the upper hand on Earth in creating beautiful patterns.
Random Metal Piece
The Curiosity rover captured an image in 2013 that showed a small hunk of metal lying on the surface of Mars. As it happens with any unusual find, the alien watchers had all kinds of theories based on the metal.
Random Metal Piece
Unfortunately, the metal is most likely a piece of meteorite captured in the right light. Or it’s possible that Thor visited Mars and left his hammer on the surface, right? Well, at least that’s what we like to believe.
Pac-Man Crater
This photo, captured by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, shows a unique-looking crater that’s shaped like everyone’s favorite old-school video game hero. Could Pac-Man really be residing on Mars?
Pac-Man Crater
While this is one of the more peculiar sightings on Mars, the likely truth is that the impact of a crater with a crescent-shaped sand dune inside caused this. We know this answer is a total anti-climax, sorry to disappoint again guys!
An Active Volcano
Mars has many naturally occurring phenomena that make it a wonder. From the discovery of water to the lava coils and avalanches. So, when the European Space Agency’s Express orbiter took this image, many rightfully believed it was evidence of an active volcano.
An Active Volcano
However, it turned out that it was actually a small cloud that was situated very close to the Arisa Mons shield volcano. It seems like this is one wonder we’ve kept strictly to Earth.
Butt Crack Rock
Even the rocks on Mars aren’t spared from being the butt of jokes it seems. Get it? In this photo captured by NASA’s perseverance rover in February 2021, a rock with an uncanny resemblance to one’s rear was found on the surface.
Butt Crack Rock
Space fans had a good laugh over this funny-looking rock in the Jezero crater and gave it the moniker of butt crack rock. We think that the rock also resembles a hot cross bun. You take your pick!
Angels in Space
The European Space Agency Mars Express captured a recent photo of the Red Planet’s south pole that had space enthusiasts feeling like heaven is actually on Mars. The photo showcased the print of an angelic figure next to a heart.
Angels in Space
Before you let your creative juices flow on the meaning of this, the explanation of this phenomenon lies in the geology of the place. The head and the halo are imprints of an impact crater, while a sublimation pit formed the hand on the left.
Brachiosaurus Rock
It appears like the dinosaurs left Earth only to migrate to Mars a million years ago. Or it might be the overactive imagination of yet another scientist and software engineer like Kevin Gill who has been credited with finding many funny rocks in rover photos.
Brachiosaurus Rock
This one was snapped by Gill with the Perseverance rover in April of 2021. And yes, this rock does greatly resemble a Brachiosaurus. However, scientists are still looking for evidence of microbial life.
Happy Faces
It seems like there’s an abundance of faces up on the surface of Mars. From gods to mere mortals, everybody has been covered. Another addition to this weird list is the Happy Face crater, captured both during 2011 and 2020 with minimal changes.
Happy Faces
This crater is located in the south pole and it looks either like a happy yet creepy smile. The darkening of the outline has been attributed to the changing frost cover on the ground.
Cannonball
The space fans are forever on the lookout for interesting things or giving strange things even stranger backstories. One such blog for UFO enthusiasts suggested that an object spotted by the Curiosity rover was actually a cannonball leftover from a war on Mars.
Cannonball
This theory was popular in December of 2017 before NASA promptly took to Twitter to point out how the object was actually made up of calcium, sulfate, sodium, and magnesium.
Sasquatch Skull
This photo of Bigfoot’s supposed skull was captured and paved the way for many alien conspiracies to come to light. They were quick to imagine a big, hairy version of aliens after spotting this skull among debris on Mars.
Sasquatch Skull
The Curiosity rover’s image taken in 2016 is in fact just a random rock. However, we can all understand why skeptics thought they were on to something more.
The Rock of Perseverance
It seems that the rocks on Mars are the celebrities of the planet because they’re always being snapped by the rovers and are the constant talk of international media outlets.
The Rock of Perseverance
So, when this odd rock was captured by the Perseverance rover in March 2021, it wasn’t long until it made the news. Scientists and space fans have speculated it’s a weathered piece of bedrock, a chunk of Mars thrown from somewhere else by an impact event, or possibly a meteorite.
Pancakes in Outer Space
NASA’s Curiosity rover snapped this image resembling a flattish rock in November of 2020. The shape and color of the rock have been compared to many food items, from pancakes to melted chocolate ice cream.
Pancakes in Outer Space
There was also speculation about the shininess of the rock which has since been cleared up as being the result of the constant pressure of wind and sand on its surface. Regardless, if the Martians are still looking to add to their brunch menu, here’s another popular dish!
Shimmery Clouds
The Curiosity rover captures more than just the geology, it also documents the happenings in the sky. One such documentation unveiled shimmy, iridescent clouds in the Mars sky in March of 2021.
Shimmery Clouds
The clouds, which look like a mother of pearls close up, appear so because of the particles being nearly identical in size. According to atmospheric scientist Mark Lemmon, this happens just after clouds have formed and grown at the same rate.
Robot Leg
This one seemed like the enthusiasts overreached a little, but it is still bizarre enough to warrant a mention. This object on the surface of Mars looks similar to a robot leg, or maybe even a puppy toy.
Robot Leg
Captured by the Curiosity rover in 2019, this is actually neither a boot nor a bot but just a rock shaped like one. Regardless, it’s not every day you find possible links to an AI invasion of Mars, right?
Strange Mesa
This bizarre-looking formation was snapped by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2017. The snapshot is a region known as Noctis Labyrinthus or labyrinth of the night. It seems that the intrigue lies not only in the object here but also in the name.
Strange Mesa
NASA has explained the wavy areas around the mesa as sand dunes. They also stated that the area was heavily eroded, and the mesa was probably composed of sedimentary deposits that are being exhumed as it erodes further.
Stick it On
The Curiosity Rover Twitter account shared these photos in January of 2018. The images show some stick-like figures on the surface of Mars, about a quarter-inch long.
Stick it On
Scientists have speculated that these figures may in actuality be crystals or minerals filled in spaces where crystals had formed and then dissolved. Some Twitter users claimed what we’re actually seeing are either tire tracks or Viking runes. We’ll let you decide!
Strange Patterns
With a title like ‘The Case of the Martian Boulder Piles,’ these formations induce mystery from the very first look. Taken by Reconnaissance Orbiter in March of 2018, this image contains a series of boiler piles in a very orderly line.
Strange Patterns
According to NASA, the neat piles could have been a result of frost heave, a process that has been observed on Earth too. It seems we do have a lot of things in common with the Red Planet, after all!
A Rover Piece
The Curiosity rover has been instrumental in finding out more about Mars. A famous incident in 2012 resulted when the rover spotted an unusual and shiny object on the ground.
A Rover Piece
Speculations and jokes ran amuck, from it being Jimmy Hoffa’s cufflinks to an AOL CD. Finally, NASA announced that the object was actually a small piece of the rover itself that had fallen off. This was, as they say, an anti-climax!
Mr. Peanut
It seems there is another cartoon character up on Mars. In an image captured by the HiRise camera team for NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the spacecraft seems to look like the mascot of Planters, Mr. Peanut.
Mr. Peanut
The image was formed due to a collection of pits but one can’t help but see the famous logo upon viewing it. Just give him his accessories like his top hat and cane, and he’s ready to dazzle people up in space!