news agent- An interesting image from the HiRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter showed a field of magnificent sand dunes called crescent dunes.
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These dunes formed along a slope at 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 one kilometer, while the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was about 197 kilometers above the surface when the image was taken.
The scientists behind the HiRISE camera say crescent dunes are common on Earth and Mars. These dunes are usually very distinct in shape, and are important because they can tell scientists about the environment in which they formed and the direction of the winds at a particular location.
Crescent dunes form in sandy areas where the winds blow in one dominant direction. This creates a crescent-shaped sand dune.
The sand arcs that define the dunes terminate in ‘horns’ indicating the direction of the wind, while the sand is blown into peaks and cliffs.
The photo was taken using the red, green, and blue filter on the camera, which gives the sand a blue appearance.
The HiRISE camera operates at visible wavelengths, like human eyes, but with a telescopic lens that makes it one of the highest resolution cameras in space today.
These high-resolution images enable scientists to distinguish 1-meter (about 3 feet) objects on the surface of Mars and study surface structure in a more comprehensive way than any other Mars mission.
HiRISE also makes observations at near-infrared wavelengths to obtain information about the minerals present.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has been in Mars orbit since 2006, and the mission’s longevity means planetary scientists can track changes over time.
The goal of capturing the main image is for the team to track seasonal changes in this area over time.
Russia Today
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