White light on Mars not sign of intelligent life: NASA
QMI Agency
First posted: Wednesday, April 09, 2014 11:41 AM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, April 09, 2014 11:53 AM EDT
A white light spotted in a photo recently taken on Mars is likely not artificial light being used by intelligent life, NASA says.
"Cosmic-ray hits or sunlight glinting from rock surfaces" are the most likely explanations, Justin Maki of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said in a press release.
The Mars rover Curiosity captured the image on April 3.
UFOSightingsDaily.com theorized the white light seen in the distance in the photo was "an artificial light source" which "could indicate there is intelligent life below the ground and uses light as we do."
Maki said the light is likely glinting off a rock on a ridge about 160 m away from the rover, which is currently in an area called the Kimberley.
"In the thousands of images we've received from Curiosity, we see ones with bright spots nearly every week," Maki said.
This photo was taken by NASA Mars rover Curiosity on April 3, 2014. Some theorize the white speck in the distance is artificial life, and may indicate signs of intelligent life on the planet. (Photo: NASA/QMI Agency)
White light on Mars not sign of intelligent life: NASA | World | News | Toronto Sun
QMI Agency
First posted: Wednesday, April 09, 2014 11:41 AM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, April 09, 2014 11:53 AM EDT
A white light spotted in a photo recently taken on Mars is likely not artificial light being used by intelligent life, NASA says.
"Cosmic-ray hits or sunlight glinting from rock surfaces" are the most likely explanations, Justin Maki of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said in a press release.
The Mars rover Curiosity captured the image on April 3.
UFOSightingsDaily.com theorized the white light seen in the distance in the photo was "an artificial light source" which "could indicate there is intelligent life below the ground and uses light as we do."
Maki said the light is likely glinting off a rock on a ridge about 160 m away from the rover, which is currently in an area called the Kimberley.
"In the thousands of images we've received from Curiosity, we see ones with bright spots nearly every week," Maki said.
This photo was taken by NASA Mars rover Curiosity on April 3, 2014. Some theorize the white speck in the distance is artificial life, and may indicate signs of intelligent life on the planet. (Photo: NASA/QMI Agency)
White light on Mars not sign of intelligent life: NASA | World | News | Toronto Sun