While they may be seen as signs of extraterrestrial life on Earth, these are actually markings on Mars.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), NASA’s long-standing resident of the Red Planet since its launch in 2005, has captured an intriguing image of unusually shaped round sand dunes on the planet’s surface.
Previously, the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRise) camera on the MRO has photographed various interesting dunes, including some crescent-shaped dunes. The data sent back also indicates that the dunes in this area have a diverse range of shapes and sizes. However, the latest images reveal that some dunes are almost perfectly round, which scientists describe as “quite unusual.”
Beautiful round sand dunes on Mars. (Photo: NASA).
Mars is a dusty planet, characterized by abundant sand and strong winds, making it an ideal location for the formation of sand dunes. However, upon closer inspection, we find that these sand dunes are not perfect and precise circles.
“They are still somewhat asymmetrical, with gentle slopes on the southern side. This indicates that sand typically moves toward the south, but the winds can vary,” noted planetary geologist Alfred McEwen.
The HiRise camera system on the MRO is currently controlled and operated from Earth, under the University of Arizona in the United States. MRO captured these dune images in late November of last year. Scientists are focusing their studies on this area to monitor the seasonal changes of the dunes. This latest imagery shows a region devoid of the frost characteristic of winter on Mars.
Such views of Mars may make it appear as a different world, but they also reflect some connection to our own planet. We too have beautiful sand dunes on Earth, which tell similar stories about wind and seasonal changes.
