Curiosity Rover Discovers Unique Polygonal Patterns on Mars

WHO:

The Verge - Ashwin Vasavada is the project scientist for the Curiosity rover.

Gizmodo - NASA is the organization responsible for the Curiosity rover.

WHAT:

The Verge - Curiosity rover discovered a field of honeycomb-shaped polygons in a Martian valley called Valle Grande.

Gizmodo - The rover captured a 360-degree panorama of the polygons, made up of 340 individual snapshots.

The Verge - Each polygon is approximately 1.5 to 3 inches wide.

Gizmodo - The newly discovered polygonal fractures spread in all directions from the rover's vantage point.

WHERE:

The Verge - The discovery was made in a Martian valley called Valle Grande.

Gizmodo - The polygons wrap around a butte named “Miraflores,” which is 20 feet tall.

WHEN:

The Verge - The 360-degree panorama was captured on June 19 and 20 (Martian sols 4,930 and 4,931).

Gizmodo - Curiosity arrived on Mars on August 5, 2012.

WHY:

The Verge - The discovery of the polygons may indicate that there was once water in Valle Grande.

Gizmodo - Scientists believe that lakes and streams covered the foothills of Mount Sharp billions of years ago.

HOW:

The Verge - Curiosity measured the shapes and chemistry of the polygons to gather data on their formation.

Gizmodo - The rover's images were stitched together to create the panorama of the polygonal features.

(UPDATED July 30, 2026 22:29 UTC)

NASA's Curiosity rover, led by project scientist Ashwin Vasavada, has made an exciting discovery in a Martian valley called Valle Grande, where it found a field of honeycomb-shaped polygons that may suggest the presence of ancient water. The rover captured a stunning 360-degree panorama of these formations, consisting of 340 individual snapshots, with each polygon measuring approximately 1.5 to 3 inches wide and wrapping around a 20-foot tall butte named “Miraflores.” Scientists believe that these newly discovered polygonal fractures could provide insights into the region's past, indicating that lakes and streams may have once covered the foothills of Mount Sharp billions of years ago.