Dark Sand Cascades. Mars

by Nasa

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Dark Sand Cascades. Mars

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Nasa

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Photograph

Description

They might look like trees on Mars, but they're not. Groups of dark brown streaks have been photographed by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on melting pinkish sand dunes covered with light frost. The above image was taken near the North Pole of Mars. At that time, dark sand on the interior of Martian sand dunes became more and more visible as the spring Sun melted the lighter carbon dioxide ice. When occurring near the top of a dune, dark sand may cascade down the dune leaving dark surface streaks -- streaks that might appear at first to be trees standing in front of the lighter regions, but cast no shadows. Objects about 25 centimetres across are resolved on this image spanning about one kilometre. Close ups of some parts of this image show billowing plumes indicating that the sand slides were occurring even when the image was being taken. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona. This file is in the public domain because it was solely created by NASA. NASA copyright policy states that "NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted"

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October 7th, 2014

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