NASA\u2019s Curiosity rover has stumbled across an unusual \u201choneycomb\u201d landscape on the red planet.<\/p>\n
The rover was operating in an area known as \u201cValle Grande\u201d when it came across the features.<\/p>\n
NASA scientists had seen small patches of these shapes before, but nothing of this size.<\/p>\n
The ground has textures called polygonal fractures, which are about four to eight centimetres across.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe polygonal shapes spread in all directions for as far as the rover can see,\u201d NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey even wrap around the sides of a nearby butte nicknamed \u2018Miraflores,\u2019 which stands six metres tall and is topped with a thick cap of sand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mission\u2019s project scientist Ashwin Vasavada said the \u201csea of polygons\u201d took the researchers\u2019 breath away.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe measured their shapes and chemistry carefully and are hopeful there are clues in the data as to how these features formed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Curiosity has been exploring Mars since 2012.<\/p>\n
\u201cBesides sulfur crystals, shiny meteorites, and other interesting geologic features, the rover has made major discoveries about the ancient Martian environment,\u201d NASA said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost importantly, that it had the water, chemistry, and nutrients to support microbial life.\u201d<\/p>\n