The High Resolution Imaging Experiment, or HIRISE, is a powerful camera that takes pictures of features as small as a desk from orbit. The image here shows a region less than 1 km (less than a mile) in diameter, and MRO was about 197 km above the surface when the image was taken. HiRISE scientists say barchan dunes are common on both Earth and Mars. Typically, these dunes have a very distinctive shape and are important because they can tell scientists about the environment in which they formed and the direction of winds in a particular location. Remove all ads on Universe Today Join our Patreon for just $3! Get the ad-free experience of a lifetime Barchan dunes are formed in the prevailing winds. Image credit: unknown. CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=571880 Barchans form in sandy areas where winds blow in a dominant direction. This creates a crescent-shaped sand dune. The arcs of sand that define the barchan dunes terminate in windward-pointing “horns,” while the sand is funneled into crests and slopes. Many times, this forms a shape that, from above, looks like Star Trek insignia. This crescent-shaped barchan dune in southeastern Greece Planetia is the result of a complex history of dunes, lava and wind. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona Winds at the North Pole of Mars must be swirling in different directions, because the dunes seen above are not the classic crescent-shaped, ribbon-like shape. The photo was taken using the camera’s red-green-blue filter, giving the sand a blue appearance. The HiRISE camera operates in visible wavelengths, the same as human eyes, but with a telescopic lens that makes it one of the highest resolution cameras currently in space. These high-resolution images allow scientists to discern objects as small as 1 meter (about 3 feet) on Mars and study the structure of the surface in a much more comprehensive way than any other Mars mission. HiRISE also makes observations at near-infrared wavelengths to obtain information about the minerals present. MRO has been orbiting Mars since 2006, and the mission’s longevity means that planetologists can track changes over time. The goal in getting the first image is for the team to monitor seasonal changes in this area over time.
Further reading: View a larger version of our main customer image on Flickr. Learn more about HiIRSE
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