A team of NASA scientists has recently been left puzzled following the discovery of a strange Martian pit that has been found in the southern hemisphere of the Red Planet. In a statement released by NASA, the American space agency explains that the stunning image was captured by the HiRISE instrument on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. More than just the strange looking pit, however, it was further revealed that the bizarre formation seemed to have surrounded the famous 'Swiss cheese terrain' on the red planet.

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The 'Swiss Cheese Terrain'

According to the space agency, it was named the "Swiss cheese terrain" due to the patterns created by carbon dioxide. By studying the images, experts said that the deep circular formation is most likely a collapse pit, which is basically a depression that's often caused by the ground sinking into a void below or an impact crater. On the other hand, it turns out that it this isn't the first time NASA scientists have eyed a weird formation on Mars. It was found that in April, a scaly-looking indentation, which is also located at the planet's South Pole area, has been uncovered.

The Giant 'Pit Of Mars'

Furthermore, despite being regarded as an impact crater, it was also found that the icy terrain goes through certain processes that drastically alter the form of these surface features, which makes it hard to determine its origin. NASA adds that while the size and frequency of impact craters on Mars can help them identify a landscape's age, as they flatten and morph over time, it's sometimes difficult to decipher an impact origin.

Meanwhile, NASA has also claimed that the orbiter's Context Camera (CTX) has taken roughly 90,000 images, with each one covering a swath of ground roughly 18.6 miles wide. To date, the camera has made a few return trips; observing 60.4 percent of Mars more than once to help scientists better understand the surface and potentially pinpoint future landing sites. Ultimately, NASA has allegedly released the pit image on Friday as another spectacular reminder of just how weird, wonderful and mysterious Mars can be.