NASA Curiosity rover image of jellyfish-like shape on Mars explained

A viral image captured by NASA’s Curiosity rover on Mars has sparked widespread social media speculation regarding potential extraterrestrial life. The photograph, taken on August 20, 2023, in the Gale Crater, features a dark silhouette that many observers have compared to a jellyfish or a tentacled creature.

Scientific experts and researchers have dismissed the possibility of a living organism or physical object. The primary evidence against a biological discovery is that the shape appears in only one specific frame; images taken by the rover 13 and 25 seconds prior to the shot show a completely clear horizon.

Experts suggest the phenomenon is a digital artifact. The most likely explanation is the impact of a high-energy cosmic ray hitting the camera's silicon sensor. Because Mars lacks a strong magnetic field and has a very thin atmosphere, its instruments are frequently exposed to such radiation. Other technical possibilities include a row of corrupted pixels or a momentary electronic transmission error during data processing.