Beating anomaly hunters to the proverbial punch, NASA's Perseverance Rover recently spotted a weirdly shaped rock that resembles a hat. The peculiar picture was reportedly snapped on August 5th as the exploratory vehicle cruised around the Red Planet. Showcased by the space agency as its image of the week, the remarkable rock has been likened by some to a medieval helmet or, in the eyes of other observers, a witch's hat.

Ironically, the formation was far more interesting to scientists for its composition, consisting of a slew of small, round mineral deposits known as spherules, rather than its odd-looking shape, which was seen as not particularly extraordinary for a rock found on Mars. That assessment will undoubtedly be dispiriting to those who believe that the Red Planet was once home to a thriving civilization that just might have somehow left a hat behind.