Scientists who sifted through photos shot by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) were surprised to discover a dune on the surface of the Red Planet that looks oddly familiar. No, this isn’t a Photoshop job, but rather a real formation that looks like Star Trek’s ‘Starfleet logo’. Unfortunately (or fortunately), this doesn’t provide enough evidence to conclude that Captain Philippa Georgiou and Commander Michael Burnham from the Star Trek: Discovery pilot actually visited the planet. Read more for a video of an alleged Star Trek phaser spotted on Mars and additional information.
“Experts say that the curious chevron shapes – found in volcanic plain of the southeast Hellas Planitia – are the result of a complex story of dunes, lava, and wind. Long ago, there were large crescent-shaped – or barchan – dunes that moved across this area, and at some point, there was a volcanic eruption. These are also called ‘dune casts’ and record the presence of dunes that were surrounded by lava,” reports The Daily Mail.