NASA has posted an interesting group of images its says were rendered by an unnamed artist from its Jet Propulsion Lab that show what the space agency, or at least the artist, though Mars might look like up close.
From NASA: "'Life on Mars' was envisioned as low to the ground, symmetrical and simple. The artist drew silicon-based life forms, probably coached by others, perhaps scientists, who had thought about such possibilities. Peculiar saucer-like shapes stood only slightly above ground level, root-like structures reached outward for growth resources; a bundle of cones faced many directions for heat, light or food. Instead of reality, the images embodied the artist's hope and anticipation of what future Martian exploration would find."
More on Mars: 15 reasons why Mars is one hot, hot, hot planet
NASA says the artist's composite stems from a series of renderings from 1975 and took into account what was known about Mars that year. "Compared to Earth, Mars is further away. Compared to Earth, Mars is further away from the light of the sun, very cold and very arid, and had a thin atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide but little nitrogen, an environment distinctly inhospitable to complex, Earth-like, carbon-based life forms," NASA stated.
If you want to download a larger image go here.
Follow Michael Cooney on Twitter: nwwlayer8
Layer 8 Extra
Check out these other hot stories: