THE Mars Curiosity Rover has taken a strange image that has left space enthusiasts captivated.

Captured by NASA, the image shows a crab-like object on the surface of the red planet.

Since emerging online, social media has been abuzz with users claiming the finding is proof of alien life.

However, scientists have been quick to offer a logical explanation for the mystery object by attributing it to a phenomenon called pareidolia.

Senior astronomer at the Centre for SETI Research Seth Shostak explained it was the same phenomenon that causes peoples brains to see shapes in clouds.

“Recognising a crab in a landscape filled with wind-weathered rocks is no more surprising — nor more significant — than seeing a winking face in a semicolon followed by a parenthesis,” he told the Mirror.

Mr Shostak said images such as this were nothing new, claiming he is sent at least one a week.

“Those that send them to me are generally quite excited, as they claim that these frequently resemble something you wouldn’t expect to find on the rusty, dusty surface of the Red Planet,” he said.

“It’s usually some sort of animal, but occasionally even weirder objects such as automobile parts. Maybe they think there are cars on Mars.”