This section shows how the 3×3 image analysis framework can separate mechanism-only scenes (terrain, light, texture) from contextual cues (atmosphere, biology, human artifacts) to decide whether a photo is more likely Earth or Mars.

How the 3×3 model helps

We structure the evidence into three layers:

• Entities (O): observable objects and surfaces (regolith, rocks, tracks, shadows)
• Behaviors (B): physical processes shaping them (erosion, sediment flow, compaction, illumination)
• Emergents (e): higher-level cues that appear from interactions (patterning, depth, directionality)

When an image is dominated by mechanism-only evidence and lacks biological or human traces, the model shifts toward a Mars classification. When we see water-weathered surfaces, vegetation patterns, or human scale/context, it shifts toward Earth.

Decision cues used in practice

Typical signals that push the classification toward Mars:

• Dry, fine-grained regolith with uniform dust tones
• Sparse, angular rocks without water-weathering
• Strong, sharp shadows in a thin atmosphere
• Rover-like tracks or hardware shadows without surrounding context

Typical signals that push toward Earth:

• Vegetation or biological texture
• Mixed mineral colors with moisture cues
• Weathering from water or wind (rounded stones, sediment layers)
• Human artifacts or scale references (roads, fences, footprints)

Image set

Summary (all correctly identified):

Image	Verdict	Primary cue	Link	3x3	ChatGPT 5.2	Claude Sonnet 4.5
	Mars	Regolith + rover-like tracks/shadow	View analysis	✓	✓	✗
	Earth	Blue sky + terrestrial dune texture	View analysis	✓	✗	✓
	Mars	Rover-like shadow + dry regolith	View analysis	✓	✓	✓
	Earth	Mudflat desiccation polygons	View analysis	✓	✓	✗
	Mars	Large dune scale + dry aeolian signature	View analysis	✓	✓	✓