Scientists at NASA have said they are baffled by the presence of strange red circles that appeared on Mars.
Images from the red planet, which is the second-smallest in the solar system, show a number of perfect red circles, marking the presence of sand dunes, The Daily Star reported.
The pictures were snapped by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, a spacecraft which landed on the planet in 2006.
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Scientists spotted the images after the orbiter was taking photographs during the end of the Martian winter.
NASA said: "Sand dunes of many shapes and sizes are common on Mars. In this example, the dunes are almost perfectly circular, which is unusual."
The space agency stressed that they are slightly asymmetrical, with their sand moving south due to variable winds, with the observation studied by scientists appearing to be frost-free.
It was photographed in December from 251km above the surface of the planet.
Addressing the public, NASA said: ""A Bear on Mars? This feature looks a bit like a bear’s face. What is it really?"
Just last month, on February 2, The Mars Curiosity Rover, a car-sized machine which was launched in 2011, captured a display of dazzling sun rays for the first time.
The rays, known as crepuscular rays lit up clouds over Mars. By analysing and documenting clouds, the Curiosity is providing scientists with crucial information on Mars' weather systems as well as the composition and temperature of its atmosphere.
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