NASA has discovered strange circular sand dunes on Mars

NASA has discovered strange circular sand dunes on Mars

Sand dunes of various shapes and sizes are very common on Mars. However, we are referring to an almost complete sand dune, which is rare. In addition, it is somewhat asymmetrical, with steep slopes at the southern end, indicating that the sands generally move south, although the winds can be variable.

Next, understand more about these circular sand dunes on Mars.

NASA publishes information about unusual sand dunes on Mars

a NASA It released a report this week detailing the discovery of “atypical” formations on Mars: sand dunes that are almost perfectly circular.

Circular sand dunes on Mars
Image: NASA.

Although it is not difficult to find sand dunes of various types and shapes on Mars, the image taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) probe in November last year surprised scientists because of its special appearance.

The ridges are somewhat asymmetrical and are found in an area around more irregular dunes, near a crater in Utopia Planitia, in the planet’s northern hemisphere. Sand dunes

Scientists consider the near-perfect circular patterns found next to the irregular sand dunes to be strange.

The variety of shape and texture on the surface of Mars

The great variety of shapes and textures on Mars has long attracted the attention of scientists. The dune image, in particular, is part of a series of images from a project that monitors how the end of winter affects these various formations on the planet.

According to a planetary geologist at the University of Arizona who was part of the research, steep areas at the southern end of the circular dunes indicate that these ridges were formed by winds moving generally south at this time.

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The MRO spacecraft’s color camera, HiRISE, was responsible for capturing the amazing and eerie images of round objects on Mars, including some crescent-shaped dunes.

NASA’s MRO is an orbiting spacecraft that studies the geological past and current climate of Mars. Since 2006, it has been studying the Red Planet’s atmosphere and terrain from orbit using high-resolution sensors.

In addition, the MRO serves as an important relay station for many Mars missions.

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About the Author: Osmond Blake

"Web geek. Wannabe thinker. Reader. Freelance travel evangelist. Pop culture aficionado. Certified music scholar."

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