Mars: Satellite spots 'spiders' on surface of Red Planet

Image source, ESA/TGO/CaSSIS

Image caption, Dark shapes have been pictured on the surface of Mars

Don't worry if you're scared of spiders - these images aren't actually of the eight-legged creepy-crawlies.

A European Space Agency mission has captured some incredible images of what looks like 'spiders' on Mars, but all is not what it seems.

The pictures from the Mars Express orbiter show dark spots on the planet's surface.

However, these form when frozen carbon dioxide is hit by spring sunshine.

Image source, ESA/DLR/FU Berlin

Image caption, The dark spots have been captured in the south polar region of Mars

Layers of carbon dioxide build on Mars over the dark winter months.

Then in the spring, sunlight hits the frozen carbon dioxide turning it into gas which builds up and breaks through the ice above.

When it bursts through onto the surface it drags up dark material with it, creating these shapes.

These dark spots can be between 45 metres and 1km wide.

Image source, European Space Agency

Image caption, The Mars Express orbiter has previously captured images of the biggest canyon in the solar system

Most of the dark spots seen in the Mars Express image sit just outside of a bit of the planet which has been nicknamed Inca City.

The area was given this nickname because of how its ridges are similar to the Inca ruins in Peru in South America.

This isn't the only incredible thing the Mars Express mission has captured.

In 2022, it pictured the biggest canyon in the solar system - which is five times deeper than the Grand Canyon in the US.