A photo of unusual pointed protrusions on the surface of Mars is more likely to be "new geological features" than the site of an alien spaceship crash.
That's according to Roscommon astronomer Dr Eamon Ansbro following a Journal of Astrobiology report stating that the pictures from NASA's Curiosity Rover on Mars "cannot be discounted with absolute certainty" as having no link to extraterrestrial life.
The images depict rows of spikes, plates and wedges which protruded from rocks lying on the Gale Crater's floor.
The report also states that "fragments including what appears to be wheels, an axle and a cratered debris field have been photographed in another Gale Crater location".
#PPOD: Here is another cool rock at Gale crater on Mars! The spikes are most likely the cemented fillings of ancient fractures in a sedimentary rock. The rest of the rock was made of softer material and was eroded away. 📷: @NASA @NASAJPL @Caltech #MSSS fredk, acquired on May 17. pic.twitter.com/RGfjmRBfI7
— The SETI Institute (@SETIInstitute) May 26, 2022
Dr Ansbro told Moncrieff the formations are more likely to be " sand spikes, similar to what you'd have after a massive earthquake on Earth" than a spacecraft landing.
"There are lots of parts of Mars that have gone through a lot of suffering erosion over time, and, therefore, you see very unusual features," he said.
"You could say, 'Well, that looks like a spacecraft' ... I will still put it down to the new geological features that we haven't seen on Earth."
Colourised raw picture of Mars surface taken by Mars Curiousity Rover (Photo by SWNS / NASA)Researchers at the NASA Ames Research Centre and the SETI Institute have said they cannot fully discount the possibility that they could be related to extraterrestrial or terrestrial spacecraft debris.
"They are warming to a much larger reality that we could be dealing with extraterrestrial spacecraft," said Dr Ansboro.
"The US Government's Congress is having a hearing this Wednesday, actually divulging that we may have had a spacecraft around the Earth already.
"I'm talking about extraterrestrials and I'm not saying they're from Mars, but it's quite astounding stuff that's going to come up."
Planet Mars in space. Elements of this image supplied by NASA (Alex Stokes / Alamy Stock Photo)Dr Ansboro said research has indicated Mars did have significant water at one stage of its evolution, which would "trigger life" as well.
"As to evolve into advanced life, like creatures so to speak, it's quite possible," he said, "As to human beings, well, you never know."
Mars is seen as one of the "prime candidates" for human occupation, along with the moon, according to Dr Ansboro.
"I would see the moon actually, within the next two or three years being manned, occupied, in a habitat. Mars, I think later on, probably by 2029 2030 the first habitants on Mars," he said.
"You're talking about, -88C on Mars to 58C, on Earth, the average is only about 14 degrees."
Travel
In order to travel to Mars, Dr Ansboro said astronauts would be travelling for nine months.
"You have to select the right time at the closest point of the Earth and Mars, which is roughly about nine months," he said.
"You don't want to go the other side of the sun, it'll be like two years.
"There are the X-rays – because the sun gives off X-rays every so often, and that will be an issue for piloting these crafts going to Mars."
Curiosity Mars Rover Selfie (Photo by NASA)Dr Ansboro is confident that the Congress meeting in the United States might reveal more information about the future of space travel.
"What I'm hoping will come out this Wednesday, or some of it anyway, is that not only do we have the craft, but some of these crafts have crashed as well on Earth, and they've been retrieved," he said.
"They're piloted by something – some nonhuman intelligence.
"How are they dealing with this? Well, I just don't know. I'm just hoping that more stuff will unfold as we go along with this issue."
