Bombshell photos released by NASA appear to show a 'pyramid the same size as Giza' on the surface of Mars. It has prompted discussions about whether an ancient civilization once existed on the surface of the Red Planet.

The pyramid-like structures have been thrust into the discourse this week after footage shared by NASA went viral. The idea that Mars is home to pyramids was first considered back in the 1970s. Scientists Mack Gipson and Victor Ablordeppey found "triangular and polygonal pyramid like structures" on the Martian surface. The most recent formation however was discovered by researcher Keith Laney in 2001 as he scanned the planet.

He believes the structure could be artificial, reports MailOnline. He said: "Were this found anywhere on Earth, we'd surely be digging into it."

Filmmaker Brian Dodds recently shared the images and said the structure was "the size of the Great Pyramid in Egypt". And while he admits it's far from proof of ancient life on Mars, he says it does raise questions about whether or not another species could have once inhabited the planet.

The "pyramid" is located in Candor Chasma, one of the largest canyons in the Valles Marineris canyon range. The range stretches almost a quarter of the circumference of Mars.

It is thought that Valles Marineris was formed by a series of rift faults and later became enlarged due to erosion and collapsing of the rift walls. Nasa spacecraft are thought to have captured the pyramid-like structure on four occasions between 2001 and 2016.

They say it has maintained a three-sided symmetry on each occasion, despite differences in lighting, image quality and seasonal conditions. Mars researcher George Haas has also backed the claims about the pyramid.

He told the MailOnline: "You don't have to be a geologist to know the difference between a rock and a sculpture, something that's geometric."

Documents released by the CIA have also added to speculation that it could be an alien structure. Documents released in 2025 revealed the agency conducted experiments aimed at gathering information on the planet.

Former CIA agent Joe McMoneagle says the agency had conducted experiments that found pyramids scattered across the surface of Mars. This, he says, included one filled with "monster rooms" that was bigger than anything found in Egypt.

Ultimately however, it will be impossible to discover the true nature of the structures without a mission to Mars. For now though, the latest discovery has done little to stop speculation about life on the Red Planet.