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16 Jul, 2017 00:00

Martian technicolor worms? NASA reveals incredible snap of Mars crater

Martian technicolor worms? NASA reveals incredible snap of Mars crater

A trippy snap of a Mars crater embedded with material resembling bizarre giant worm-like creatures has been revealed by NASA.

A colored infrared HiRISE image captured by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows the exposed bedrock of material scattered across the surface after impact.

However, to the untrained eye, the distinct features could be mistaken for creepy martian insects.

The material, called ejecta, and this time found in an unnamed crater in the Mare Serpentis region of Mars, often reveals exotic and colorful subsurfaces.

This find shares similarities to others discovered previously on the red planet, according to NASA.

Dubbed the ‘Amazing technicolor ejecta blanket,’ the colors represent different rocks and minerals exposed on the surface. 

Blue areas in the image depict iron-rich minerals, like olivine and pyroxene while lighter colors, such as yellow, indicate the presence of altered rocks.

The possible sources of the ejecta is most likely from two unnamed craters, NASA said.

RT

The full scale image shows numerous linear features in an east-west direction, suggesting the flow direction of the ejecta from its unnamed host crater.

Following the features, it is clear it stems from the bottom of the two unnamed craters, NASA found, noting that if the ejecta had originated from the top crater, the linear features would trend northwest to southeast.

READ MORE: Sun block: NASA to lose contact with Mars missions during week-long solar event

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