An interesting image from the HiRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter showed a field of magnificent sand dunes called crescent dunes.
These dunes formed along a slope near Chasma Boreale, at the north pole of Mars.
The high-resolution imaging experience is HIRISE, a powerful camera that captures images that see features as small as a desk from orbit.
The new image shows an area of less than a kilometer, while the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was about 197 kilometers above the surface when the image was taken.
Scientists behind the HiRISE camera say crescent dunes are common on Earth and Mars. These dunes usually have a very distinct shape and are important because they can tell scientists about the environment in which they formed and the direction of the winds in a particular place.
Rising dunes form in sandy areas where winds blow in a dominant direction. This creates a crescent-shaped sand dune.
The sand arches that define the dunes end in “horns” which indicate the direction of the wind, while the sand is pushed into peaks and cliffs.
The photo was taken using the camera’s red, green and blue filter, which gives the sand a blue look.
The HiRISE camera operates at visible wavelengths, like human eyes, but with a telescopic lens making it one of the highest resolution cameras in space today.
These high-resolution images allow scientists to distinguish 1 meter (about 3 feet) sized objects on the surface of Mars and study the surface structure in a more comprehensive way than any other Mars mission.
HiRISE also makes observations at near infrared wavelengths to obtain information on the minerals present.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has been in the orbit of Mars since 2006, and the longevity of the mission means that planetary scientists can track changes over time.
The goal of capturing the main image is for the team to keep track of seasonal changes in this area over time.
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