January 28, 2025

Selin Samli

12th Grade

Pine Crest School

The Mars Spider is not a real spider, but rather a nickname for the strange, black, spider-like shapes found on the surface of Mars. These formations found on the surface of Mars resemble lines that spread out from a central point, looking how a spider’s legs would look like. This phenomenon was first noticed in high-resolution images sent back by spacecraft studying the planet. The first major observations were made in the early 2000s when NASA’s Mars Orbiter Camera captured detailed pictures of the Martian landscape, revealing these mysterious features.

The Mars Spiders are mostly found near the planet’s South Pole, where large deposits of frozen carbon dioxide, or dry ice, are located. For a long time, scientists were not sure how or why these spider-like patterns appeared. They knew that ice was somehow involved, but the exact process remained a mystery to them. Over the years though, scientists have gained a better understanding of how these formations are created. They think that during Mars’ spring season, the dry ice under the surface starts to turn into gas as the planet warms up. As the gas builds up, it creates pressure beneath the surface, eventually forcing its way through cracks in the ground and carving channels in the soil. These channels spread out in a pattern that looks like the legs of a spider. This process is unique to Mars since Earth doesn’t have dry ice on its surface.

Studying the Mars Spider helps scientists learn more about the planet’s surface and weather patterns because these formations are influenced by seasonal changes on Mars. The fact that the phenomenon is caused by a mix of dry ice and Martian weather makes it clear just how different Mars is from Earth. By learning more about these formations, scientists can gain insights into the planet’s climate history and the possibility of life there. While the Mars Spider is still a bit of a mystery, it is a fascinating example of the complex and ever-changing nature of our neighboring planet.