NASA spotted strange sand circles on Mars
The red planet's geology and windy climate are conducive to the formation of atypically shaped dunes.
NASA 's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) , which has long observed the red planet, has captured a fascinating image of particularly regular-shaped dunes. MRO's High Resolution Imaging Experiment (HiRise) camera has already photographed beautiful dunes, especially crescent-shaped ones. “ Sand dunes of various shapes and sizes are common on Mars. In this example, the dunes are almost perfectly circular, which is unusual ,” wrote planetary geologist Alfred McEwen in a post on HiRise's Picture of the Day.
Mars is a dusty, sandy planet swept by the winds, which makes it a favorable site for the formation of dunes. A close look shows that these dunes are not perfect circles. “ They are still slightly asymmetrical, with steep slip faces on the southern ends. This indicates that the sand is generally moving south, but the winds can be variable ,” continues Alfred McEwen.
The HiRise camera is operated by the University of Arizona. The MRO probe photographed these dunes at the end of November last year. Researchers were studying the area to monitor seasonal changes in frost cover. Views of Mars like this show a connection to our planet. On Earth, we also have dunes that tell similar stories about the wind and the changing seasons.
Source : sites Internet