NASA’s Earth Observing-1 satellite captured a stunning image in 2012 of a bright white patch of snow-covered sea ice in the Arctic that bears a striking resemblance to the iconic Starfleet badges worn by characters in the popular “Star Trek” franchise. The image, taken on July 26, 2012, showcases a unique snow-topped structure located in Foxe Basin in Nunavut, Canada.
The snow-covered sea ice in the shape of a Starfleet badge was spotted among a sea of dirty, fracturing sea ice in northern Canada. The curved white hook of the structure resembles the rounded, arrowhead-shape badges pinned to the uniforms of fictional Starfleet officers such as James T. Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard.
Nathan Kurtz, chief scientist of the Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, explained that the unusual icy arrowhead was likely caused by snow getting trapped in rough, ridged ice that formed as it ran up against the Manning Islands in Foxe Basin. The 1.5-mile-wide patch of snow-covered sea ice appeared to be multi-year sea ice, composed of ice dating back several years.
During the summer when the photo was taken, Arctic sea ice begins to melt and break apart into smaller fragments that eventually melt completely. In this particular case, a majority of the fragments had a muddy brown color due to staining from sediment dragged up from the seafloor. The photo also shows larger ice fragments peppered with small blue dots, which are melt ponds that form on the surface of the ice as it melts.
The waters surrounding the sea ice fragments are rich in phytoplankton, attracting a variety of marine animals including Arctic terns, seals, walruses, polar bears, narwhals, and beluga whales. The 2012 satellite image was taken during a record-low year for Arctic sea ice, with the minimum sea ice extent reported as the lowest since records began in 1979 by the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).
By early August 2012, just a week after the photo was taken, there was very little ice left in Foxe Basin. The record-low sea ice extent in 2012 still stands as the lowest to date, though recent years have also seen very low minimum sea ice extent due to the impacts of human-caused climate change.
This image of the Starfleet badge-shaped snow-covered sea ice in the Arctic is not the only time science-fiction enthusiasts have spotted familiar shapes in satellite photos. In 2019, researchers identified a similar arrowhead shape on the surface of Mars in images captured by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, likely formed by strong winds sculpting the Red Planet’s rocks.
The discovery of the Starfleet badge-shaped snow-covered sea ice provides a unique intersection of science and pop culture, showcasing the beauty and intrigue of our planet as seen from space. As climate change continues to impact Arctic sea ice and the environment, it serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between nature and human activity.