Overview
- The Curiosity rover captured a 360-degree Mastcam panorama that shows an unusually extensive expanse of small polygonal surface features in Valle Grande.
- The panorama was taken on June 19–20, 2026 and is a composite of 340 frames with color adjusted to approximate human-eye lighting.
- Individual polygons measure about 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) across and the pattern wraps around a sand-capped butte nicknamed Miraflores, roughly 20 feet (6 meters) tall.
- Scientists have not yet identified how the polygons formed and are testing multiple explanations, including mud cracks from drying, temperature cycling, compaction, or shrinkage from loss of water or mineral changes.
- The team is actively measuring morphology and chemistry to resolve the origin; the result could shed light on local wet–dry cycles in Mount Sharp’s ancient lake and stream environment but does not by itself indicate past life.