In the vast expanse of the Arctic, where sea ice melts and reforms in an endless cycle, a remarkable sight was captured by NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite in 2012. Amidst the fractured, dirty ice in Foxe Basin, a patch of snow-covered sea ice stood out, its shape eerily reminiscent of the iconic Starfleet badge worn by characters in the beloved sci-fi series, Star Trek.
The curved white hook, resembling the rounded, arrowhead-shaped badge, was nestled around a group of small, rocky islands known as the Manning Islands. Nathan Kurtz, chief scientist of the Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, explained that the icy arrowhead likely formed when snow became trapped within the rough, ridged ice created by the clashing of ice against the Manning Islands. This unique formation appeared to be multi-year sea ice, composed of ice several years old.
The image was taken during a period of significant Arctic sea ice melt. Summertime in the Arctic witnesses a melting of sea ice, leading to the fragmentation of the ice sheet into smaller pieces. In this case, many of these fragments displayed a muddy brown color due to the sediment stirred up from the seafloor.
The larger ice fragments featured small, blue dots, signifying melt ponds, shallow pools of water that form on the surface of the ice as it melts. These areas are teeming with life, serving as a habitat for diverse marine animals, including Arctic terns, seals, walruses, polar bears, narwhals, and beluga whales.
This image was captured during a record low year for Arctic sea ice. The National Snow and Ice Data Center reported that 2012 saw the lowest minimum sea ice extent since records began in 1979. Just a week after the photo was taken, very little ice remained in Foxe Basin. This record low remains unbroken, although recent years have also witnessed low minimum sea ice extent, a consequence of human-induced climate change.
While this isn’t the first time a Starfleet badge has been spotted in satellite images, it serves as a stark reminder of the changing Arctic landscape. In 2019, researchers identified a similar shape on the surface of Mars, formed by wind erosion on the Red Planet’s rocks. These instances, though seemingly trivial, highlight the dynamic nature of our planet and its celestial neighbor, constantly sculpted by natural forces.
