Neighborhood newbie (we mean that lovingly) RallyP took the photo above. He wonders:

Is this Mars? Or is this Bernal Heights? Here we are on Bernal Hill, looking south towards the Bay and Candlestick Park. These incredibly brown rocks and dirt could almost fool you into thinking you were standing on Mars. Maybe.

It’s an astute observation, especially when you compare his photo with this image taken by the Mars Spirit rover, shortly before it went silent on the Martian surface:

And even more curious is the stunning discovery NASA researchers made when they examined the hilltop visible in the background of the image.

Let’s zoom in and enhance it for a closer look, shall we?

Veeeeeeeeery innnnnnnnteresting, eh?

PHOTOS: RallyP’s Going West, NASA