3. A pattern resembling dragon scales is etched into the Martian surface.
In 2017, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took images of a pattern that looked close to mystical dragon scales. Etched into the surface of the Red Planet, the pictures showed a pink-hued, iridescent way. The rugged nature of the design left scientists wondering what caused the formation.
Most likely, Mars’ dragon scales were caused by interactions between water and rocks on Mars billions of years ago. Water is mixed with the stone to form a clay-like substance. The wind then eroded areas of the clay, resulting in the dragon-scale appearance. Discoveries like this help NASA researchers better understand what Mars’ atmosphere and climate were like in its early days. It’s believed that Mars’s original weather was colder and drier than previously thought, and it did not have an Earth-like quality.