Life on Mars a red planet herring

Published on Thursday 24 January 2008 00:16

IT'S been dubbed the astrological world's answer to Bigfoot.

These images, captured by a NASA robot, and apparently showing a little Martian, have had space enthusiasts agog with excitement since being posted on the internet.

But far from offering evidence of life on Mars, experts believe the picture simply shows an unusually shaped, 5cm-high rock formation.

The images, taken by NASA's Mars Explorer Spirit, seem to show a figure striding purposefully across the surface of the planet.

At first, astronomers were disappointed with pictures sent back from the surface of the red planet by the six-wheel robot five years ago. But an eagle-eyed space fan spotted the figure, which was a pinprick in the original image. Jim Bell, a NASA astronomer, last night said the image was of a rock which had been carved into an unusual shape by wind-blown sand on the red planet. He added: "I'd be the guy leading the parade if we found any sign of life. It would be spectacular for NASA – and don't think that we're not looking – but this ain't it."