ESA Probe Captures Giant "Spiders" on Mars

They have a natural origin, but Martian flies are not caught.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has published photographs of unusual objects captured by the camera of the Trace Gas Orbiter, which operates in orbit around Mars. These formations were spotted in the southern polar region of the Red Planet. From above, they resemble giant spiders. However, they have nothing in common with arthropods.

Such formations occur when winter transitions to spring in the polar regions. Frozen layers of carbon dioxide mixed with dust heat unevenly under sunlight. When the deposits located beneath the ice turn into gas, it explosively bursts forth, lifting a high column of dark sand. As it settles on the surface, characteristic patterns emerge, which can be observed from orbit.

Moreover, they can be quite large: ranging from 45 meters to 1 kilometer. Such a gas jet can break ice up to 1 meter thick. It's no wonder that the formed structures are visible even from Mars' orbit. Gradually, they become covered with new layers of more familiar reddish dust, making them less noticeable.