Giant creepy shadow on Mars has ‘grown massively’ and scientists don’t know why
Scientists are baffled by a massive, volcanic shadow growing across Mars at a rate of four miles a year, potentially hiding ancient oceans beneath the surface
A giant shadow on Mars has grown massively and scientists have no idea why(Image: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin)
A mysterious dark shadow is creeping across the surface of Mars and has left experts baffled by its sudden growth spurt.
Stunning new images have revealed that a massive blackened patch, nestled within a giant crater on the Red Planet, has been expanding at an alarming rate since it was first discovered 50 years ago.
The eerie structure, a wasteland of volcanic ash and rock, is located in Utopia Planitia, a colossal plain in Mars’ northern hemisphere spanning roughly 2,000 miles. First snapped by NASA‘s Viking probes in 1976, the dark terrain was once a static feature of the Martian landscape.
However, the latest data from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Mars Express orbiter shows the shadow is on the move.
Parts of the southern boundary have shifted by at least 200 miles, meaning the dark patch is expanding across the landscape by approximately four miles every single year.
The mysterious area is composed of ancient volcanic materials, including rocks such as olivine and pyroxene.
Scientists are currently locked in a debate over what is causing the expansion, though most agree the planet’s violent winds are the primary suspect.
ESA representatives said: “The spread of the ash over the last 50 years has two possible explanations: either it has been picked up and moved about by Martian winds, or the ochre dust that previously covered the dark ash has been blown away.”
Utopia Planitia has long been a source of intrigue. It was the landing site for NASA’s Viking 2 in the 70s and more recently hosted China’s Zhurong rover.
Scientific data suggests the region was once home to a massive Martian ocean, featuring what researchers believe are ancient shorelines.
Evidence also points to a radical climatic shift that occurred roughly 400,000 years ago, completely altering the local environment.
Furthermore, scientists believe there are massive deposits of ice buried deep underground, a discovery that could have big implications for the ongoing hunt for extraterrestrial life.
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