Is this really a crashed mothership on Mars UFOhunters are buzzing about possible alien spacecraft sighting. What do you think fact or fiction

In the latest of a series of bizarre claims about Mars, UFO hunters believe they have spotted an ‘alien mothership’ on the planet’s surface.

Using pH๏τographs released by Nasa, YouTube channel ‘UFOvni2012’ has put together a video pointing out a dark shape Mars.

The shape, which looks remarkably similar to a rock, could be a crashed spacecraft created by an alien civilisation, he claims.

Using pH๏τographs released by Nasa, YouTube channel ‘UFOvni2012’ has put together a video pointing out how a dark shape (pictured), that looks remarkably similar to a rock, could be a crashed UFO

‘If we take a look at the crash site we see that the UFO, which is approximately 190 metres wide, impacted the surface at a low angle ending up half buried in the Martian soil’ the video says

The YouTube description of the video says it is the Medusa Fossae formation on the planet, a ‘large geological unit of uncertain origin’.

The Medusa Fossae formation is an extensive unit of enigmatic origin found near the boundary between the Tharsis and Elysium centres of volcanic activity, according to the European Space Agency.

In the video, two lines are drawn over the pH๏τograph to highlight parts of the UFO.

It shows a detailed drawing of what the UFO could look like, if it was a spaceship.

‘If we take a look at the crash site we see that the UFO, which is approximately 190 metres wide, impacted the surface at a low angle ending up half buried in the Martian soil’ the video says.

‘The long and turned landing tracks left behind from the craft show that the ship crash landed as gently as it could,’ UFO-hunter Scott Waring told Metro.

Nigel Watson, author of the UFO Investigation Manual, said: 'I think it is more likely to be a natural geological formation'. Pictured is a zoomed out view

This image, taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on ESA’s Mars Express , shows part of the Medusa Fossae formation and adjacent areas at the highland-lowland boundary on Mars. This view, looking south-east, is calculated from a digital terrain model

‘Looks like a base that opens the door and let light escape unto the sand dunes of Mars,’ one commenter said.

‘Or it can just be a damn meteor that crashed,’ said another.

While Nigel Watson, author of the UFO Investigation Manual, said: ‘I think it is more likely to be a natural geological formation.

‘Though there is added mystery to the allegation that the images have been removed from websites to keep this image secret.’

Mars is a favourite of UFO-spotters, with claims in recent months ranging from the remains of a grizzly bear, to an alien’s gold ring.

BELIEVE IN CONSPIRACY THEORIES? YOU’RE PROBABLY A NARCISSIST

People who doubt the moon landings are more likely to be selfish and attention-seeking, according to a study earlier this year.

Over the course of three online-based studies, researchers at the University of Kent showed strong links between the belief in conspiracy theories and negative psychological traits.

Writing in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, the team explained: ‘Previous research linked the endorsement of conspiracy theories to low self-esteem.’

In the first study, a total of 202 participants completed questionnaires on conspiracy beliefs, asking how strongly they agreed with specific statements, such as whether governments carried out acts of terrorism on their own soil.

Alongside this, they were asked to complete a narcissist scale and a self-esteem ᴀssessment.

The results showed that those people who rated highly on the narcissism scale and who had low self-esteem were more likely to be conspiracy believers.

‘When we do eventually get there, say in 2033 as the National Geographic Channel’s Mars TV series suggests, it’ll be fascinating to get a close-up view of these so-called alien artefacts, spacecraft and bases to find out the truth of the matter first hand.’

Many scientists believe that seeing strange objects, such as a ‘coffin’ or a UFO on Mars, is simple a case of pareidolia.

This is a psychological response to seeing faces and other significant and everyday items in random places.

It is a form of apophenia, which is when people see patterns or connections in unconnected data.

There have been multiple occasions when people have claimed to see religious images and themes in unexpected places, especially the faces of religious figures.

A famous instance was when Mary’s face was a grilled cheese sandwich.

Images of Jesus have even been spotted inside the lid of a jar of Marmite and in a potato.

The Medusa Fossae formation is an extensive unit of enigmatic origin found near the boundary between the Tharsis and Elysium centres of volcanic activity, according to the European Space Agency