A NASA orbiter spots the "Star Trek" symbol. on Mars

With the kind permission of NASA

(CNN) – It may be time to say hello to Starfleet and see if they've installed a base on Mars.

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured on the Martian surface the image of a strange chevron resembling the Star Trek symbol "Starfleet, an organization devoted to space exploration, diplomacy, research, defense and the maintenance of peace.

But how is it found on the red planet?

The forms were found in the Mars area of ​​Hellas Planitia, created by wind, lava and dunes. At one point in Martian history, crescent-shaped dunes were found in the area. An eruption sent lava to spread, moving around the dunes but not covering them. As the lava cooled, the dunes stood like islands.

But they were always dunes, so the wind could move them and the dunes migrated essentially. Their footprints, called "molded dunes", were left in the lava field.

So, no, it's not an extraterrestrial habitat or a Starfleet base – unless the United Federation of Planets has explanations to give.