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Tag Archives: sand
HiRISE: Raindrops of sand in Copernicus Crater
Raindrops of sand in Copernicus Crater. The dark features here look like raindrops, but are actually sand dunes rich in the mineral olivine. These types of dunes are rare on Earth as olivine rapidly weathers to clays in a wet … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged Copernicus Crater, eolian processes, High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, HiPOD, HiRISE, HiRISE Picture of the Day, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MRO, NASA, olivine, sand, sand dunes, University of Arizona
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THEMIS: Lyot Crater dune field
THEMIS Image of the Day, August 9, 2019. Lyot Crater is a large, complex crater in the northern lowlands of Vastitas Borealis. This image is located along the southern rim of the crater and shows part of the dune field … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged Arizona State University, ASU, Lyot Crater, Mars Odyssey, NASA, northern lowlands, sand, sand dunes, THEMIS, THEMIS Image of the Day, Thermal Emission Imaging System, Vastitas Borealis
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THEMIS: Frosty dunes in Hyperboreae Undae
THEMIS Image of the Day, August 5, 2019. Several dune fields encircle the north polar cap. Hyperboreae Undae is one of them, located near Escorial Crater and Chasma Boreale. This VIS image was taken during the spring season, when the … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged Arizona State University, ASU, Chasma Boreale, defrosting, dunes, Escorial Crater, frost, Hyperboreae Undae, Mars Odyssey, NASA, polar sand dunes, sand, THEMIS, THEMIS Image of the Day, Thermal Emission Imaging System
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THEMIS: Patterns on patterns in the Olympia Undae dunes
THEMIS Image of the Day, July 19, 2019. Today’s VIS image shows a small portion of Olympia Undae. Olympia Undae is a large dune field that dominates the plains along part of the north polar cap. This image was collected … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged Arizona State University, ASU, Mars Odyssey, NASA, north polar sand sea, northern plains, Olympia Undae, sand, sand dunes, THEMIS, THEMIS Image of the Day, Thermal Emission Imaging System, wind
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Mars sand moves under different conditions than Earth sand
Wind has shaped the face of Mars for millennia, but its exact role in piling up sand dunes, carving out rocky escarpments or filling impact craters has eluded scientists until now. In the most detailed analysis of how sands move … Continue reading
THEMIS: Arabia Terra crater in false color
THEMIS Image of the Day, May 23, 2019. Today’s false color image shows part of an unnamed crater in Arabia Terra. The THEMIS VIS camera contains 5 filters. The data from different filters can be combined in multiple ways to … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged Arabia Terra, Arizona State University, ASU, basaltic sand, false color, Mars Odyssey, NASA, sand, sand dunes, THEMIS, THEMIS Image of the Day, Thermal Emission Imaging System
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THEMIS: Basaltic dunes on a Meridiani Planum crater floor
THEMIS Image of the Day, May 16, 2019. Today’s false color image shows an unnamed crater north of Meridiani Planum. The dark blue features are small basaltic sand dunes. The THEMIS VIS camera contains 5 filters. The data from different … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged Arizona State University, ASU, basaltic sand, false color, Mars Odyssey, Meridiani Planum, NASA, sand, sand dunes, THEMIS, THEMIS Image of the Day, Thermal Emission Imaging System
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Curiosity: Rolling along behind the ridge
Sol 2361, March 29, 2019. Leaving a zigzag track (click the composite image above), Curiosity continues to roll northeastward behind Vera Rubin Ridge, roughly paralleling its direction. Sand dune “blow-overs” are visible to the left of the rover in the … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged Aeolis Mons, CBU, clay-bearing unit, Curiosity, Gale Crater, Glen Torridon, Mars Science Laboratory, Mount Sharp, MSL, Murray Formation, NASA, sand, sand dunes, TARs, transverse eolian ridges, Vera Rubin Ridge, wind
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THEMIS: Arabia Terra crater dunes
THEMIS Image of the Day, February 27, 2019. This VIS image shows the floor of an unnamed crater in Arabia Terra. The peaks in the center of the crater floor were formed by the rebound of melted rock at the … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged Arabia Terra, Arizona State University, ASU, basaltic sand, false color, Mars Odyssey, NASA, sand, sand dunes, THEMIS, THEMIS Image of the Day, Thermal Emission Imaging System
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THEMIS: Basaltic sands in Marth Crater
THEMIS Image of the Day, February 21, 2019. This false color image shows part of the floor of Marth Crater. Dark blue tones typically indicate basaltic sands. Wind action is blowing the sand and dust to the southern side of … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged Arizona State University, ASU, basaltic sand, false color, Mars Odyssey, Marth Crater, NASA, sand, sand dunes, THEMIS, THEMIS Image of the Day, Thermal Emission Imaging System
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