A black, spindly object resembling a jellyfish has been spotted on Mars in a resurfaced image taken by Nasa's Curiosity rover, reigniting speculation about extraterrestrial life. The photograph, captured on August 20, 2023, shows the object on the slopes of Gale Crater, a 96-mile-wide ancient meteor impact site. The image was taken 3,924 Martian days (Sols) into Curiosity's mission, which began in 2012.
Resurfaced image sparks debate
The image was flagged on social media platform X by Kari Sivertzen, who has been combing through Curiosity's archives for months. Sivertzen posted the photo on August 12, 2026, noting that the object was not visible in a photograph taken less than 10 seconds earlier, and it was the final photo taken that day. The image caption simply states it was taken by the Right Navigation Camera, with no further explanation.
Users were quick to speculate, with some suggesting it could be a UFO. Jean Ward, a Mars researcher, said the 'tripod object' could be a 'potential UFO', adding, 'As always, until we get boots on the ground to see these anomalies up close, I can only speculate as to what these objects might be.' Another user commented, 'First image of a jellyfish UFO [on] Mars. Great.'
Skeptics point to camera glitches
However, skeptics argue the object could be a trick of the light or a camera artefact—a term space officials use for corrupted pixels or glitches. The object was not present in an image taken just 10 seconds earlier, and it was the last shot of the day, which some say supports the glitch theory. Nasa has been approached for comment but has not yet responded.
Sivertzen, who insists the object is not Ingenuity—a tiny helicopter that operates with the Perseverance rover in Jezero Crater, about 2,300 miles away—said he believes there is life on other planets. 'I believe there is life on other planets, and since NASA has found potential traces of life on Mars, it's the perfect place to look,' he said.
Historical UFO sightings on Earth
The sighting echoes a similar event on Earth. On February 10, 1989, witnesses in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire reported a UFO shaped like a jellyfish, described as 'larger than a helicopter with more lights than a plane'. Similar objects, now termed Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), have been seen near military bases in Iraq, though skeptics suggest they could be balloons or aircraft.
Curiosity, a 1,000kg mobile laboratory, has been exploring Gale Crater since 2012, searching for traces of ancient life. The resurfaced image adds to a list of unusual Martian sightings, including 'spiders', egg-shaped holes, and a 'crowned face', but experts caution that pareidolia—the human tendency to see patterns—may explain many such findings.
