It appears that Mars may possess an admiration for fashion, particularly in the form of a timeless pattern known as polka dots. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft, which has resided on the planet for quite some time, recently procured an intriguing image showcasing sand dunes sporting noticeably circular shapes.
MRO’s HiRise camera has previously captured images of several fascinating sand dunes on Mars, including some crescent-shaped ones that are more common. On Thursday’s HiRise picture-of-the-day feature, planetary geologist Alfred McEwen remarked that sand dunes of different shapes and sizes are widespread on Mars, and the almost perfectly circular dunes in this particular instance are exceptional.
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Examine those delightful circular dunes on Mars more closely. The planet’s dusty, sandy and windy terrain makes it an ideal location for the formation of sand dunes. Upon close inspection, the dunes are not perfectly circular. McEwen stated that “they are still somewhat asymmetrical, with steeper slopes on the southern ends. This suggests that sand generally moves towards the south, but the direction of the winds may vary.” These findings demonstrate the variability of wind patterns on Mars.
The University of Arizona operates the HiRise camera, which captured an image of the dunes in late November of last year through MRO. The purpose of the study was to monitor the frost coverage and observe seasonal changes in the area. As indicated in this picture, the frost is not present in the landscape.
Images of Mars may appear unearthly, yet they demonstrate a correlation between our neighboring planets. Comparable narratives on wind patterns and seasonal transformations can be discerned from the scenic dunes here on Earth. Both planets possess an abundance of beauty.
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