Curiosity Rover’s Next Stop: ‘Spiderwebs’ on Martian Mountain

The Curiosity rover is preparing for its next mission, which will take it to explore the giant spiderweb-like formations on Mount Sharp. These honeycomb patterns stretch for miles across the Martian mountain, and NASA has announced that the rover will soon begin its journey to this region.

The spiderweb-like geological formations, known as boxwork, are believed to have formed when the last surface water in this area of Mars evaporated. These intersecting ridges span a distance of 10 to 20 kilometers.

For the past year, Curiosity has been studying the Gediz Vallis channel on Mount Sharp, located in Gale Crater. Scientists believe this channel was created by an ancient river or debris flow. In this region, the rover has discovered pure sulfur crystals inside rocks and taken a 360-degree panoramic image of the Gediz Vallis, documenting its findings before continuing its journey.

Currently, Curiosity is traveling along the western edge of the Gediz Vallis, heading toward the spiderweb-like formations. Scientists are eager to uncover new discoveries in this unexplored area.

The spiderweb formations on Mars were created billions of years ago, when the planet was believed to have had rivers and surface water. As the water dried up, it left behind ridges and channels. The process that formed the spiderwebs began when the surface rock fractured, and the remaining water seeped into these cracks, carrying minerals with it. Over time, these minerals hardened, while the surrounding rock, being softer, eroded away, leaving behind the intersecting ridges.

On Earth, similar patterns are typically found in caves and on cliff faces, but on Mars, these formations are spread across the surface, offering new insights into the planet’s ancient history.