NASA’s Curiosity Discovers a Field of Martian Polygons NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSSAs NASA’s Curiosity rover recently began climbing up a Martian valley nicknamed “Valle Grande,” it sent back images that were a familiar sight to mission scientists: honeycomb-like textures called polygonal fractures, each one about 1.5 to 3 inches (4 to 8 centimeters) across. These newly discovered polygons are among the many surprises Curiosity has trundled across since landing on Mars 14 years ago, on Aug. 5, 2012. NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover captured this sand-capped butte, nicknamed “Miraflores,” estimated to be about 20 feet (6 meters) tall, on June 11, 2026. NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSSManaged by Caltech in Pasadena, JPL built Curiosity and leads the mission on behalf of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington as part of the agency’s Mars Exploration Program portfolio. To learn more about Curiosity, visit:https://science.nasa.gov/mission/msl-curiosityNews Media ContactsAndrew GoodJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.818-393-2433andrew.c.good@jpl.nasa.govKaren Fox / Alana JohnsonNASA Headquarters, Washington240-285-5155 / 202-672-4780karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / alana.r.johnson@nasa.gov2026-051