NASA's various space missions have resulted in some of the most memorable photographs of all time. But sometimes it's the simplest images that get the most attention.
Star Wars fans have gotten particularly excited after the MESSENGER spacecraft has transmitted a certain image of Mercury's surface. Yes, squint a little and the formation in question resembles the iconic image of Han Solo trapped in carbonite.
NASA scientists have joked about the image, stating “a portion of the terrain surrounding the northern margin of the Caloris basin hosts an elevated block in the shape of a certain carbonite-encased smuggler who can make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs".
However, they also sneak in a bit of science, explaining how the shape was the result of materials ejecting during a 'basin forming event'. They further explain "the act of seeing a meaningful shape in random landforms is a form of pareidolia - and has been seen for Mercury more than a few times before." Previously, spiders, giant 'X' marks and snowmen have been among the sights 'spotted' in images of Mercury.
(Main image: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington)
