NASA Curiosity rover image of Mars “jellyfish” goes viral

A previously overlooked image captured by NASA’s Curiosity rover in the Gale crater has gained viral attention on social media. The photo, originally taken on August 20, 2023, depicts a small, dark shape resembling a “jellyfish” appearing to sit atop a distant rocky hill.

Technical analysis suggests the shape is likely an imaging artifact rather than a physical anomaly. The object, which covers only about 15 pixels, was captured by the rover’s right navigation camera. Notably, the shape was not present in images taken less than two minutes prior, and it had disappeared in a subsequent image taken 78 minutes later, indicating it is not a permanent feature of the Martian landscape.