techfun89 writes "Mars has returned to our evening skies as it
does every two years. This time it is getting even more
attention and buzz than it normally would. Amateur astronomer
Wayne Jaeschke of West Chester Pennsylvania noticed an unusual
protrusion in the planet's southern hemisphere, preceding the
sunrise terminator. Several things may have contributed to this
strange 'cloud formation.' One possibility is a meteoric impact
event, where dust was spewed up into the atmosphere. Another
could be a major dust storm, which are typical on Mars. Of
course, it could be something more mundane; that these
observations were caused by a mere optical illusion via a type
of glint that occurred due to having just the right combination
of lighting and atmospheric conditions. Some suggest volcanic
activity, though this is unlikely given it has been 20 to 200
million years since lava has flowed on Mars."