Featured Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
NASA has released the clearest ever photos of Mars in history and everyone has been mesmerized by one thing in particular.
The new footage of the Red Planet has given us a clear insight into what the conditions are really like as a push to put a human on Mars continues.
The images of Mars were captured by the NASA Curiosity Rover in December 2015 and are of the Namib Dune in the Bagnold Dune Field.
On the NASA website, it explained: “Two sizes of wind-sculpted ripples are evident in this view of the top surface of a Martian sand dune.
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Sand dunes and the smaller type of ripples also exist on Earth.
The larger ripples - roughly 10 feet (3 meters) apart - are a type not seen on Earth nor previously recognized as a distinct type on Mars.”
The space agency continued: “The component images were taken in early morning at this site, with the camera looking in the direction of the sun. This mosaic combining the images has been processed to brighten it and make the ripples more visible. The sand is very dark, both from the morning shadows and from the intrinsic darkness of the minerals that dominate its composition.”
These images have sparked a response from people after they circulated on social media, with many users sharing a similar sentiment after being mesmerized by the sand dunes.
On Reddit, one user wrote: “Sand dunes on Mars taken by NASA’s Curiosity rover reveal quite amazing patterns.”
Another asked: “Are the higher than (Earth) normal peaks seen on the dunes the result of the reduced gravity, composition of the sand or ???”
This prompted a reply from another person who said: “Reduced gravity most likely. Every granular material has an “angle of repose”. If you pour a bunch of it on a flat surface what angle does the pile surface make with the ground. This depends on the material, moisture level and also gravity. The same sand in low gravity is going to make a ‘pointier’ pile than one in a higher gravity.”
A fourth joked: “Ah, the Martian Swamps of Chocolate Mousse. So inviting this time of year.”
And a fifth person added: “They look alien. Cool.”
Over on X, formerly Twitter, others described the imagery as ‘mesmerizing’ and ‘beautiful’.
A third user on X wrote: “What horribly weird lifeforms dwells beneath these, i'd like to see.”
And a fourth added: “It's impressive how they create a utopia on this planet where visibly through these images and others, it is clear that there are no living conditions at all, It’s more like our Sahara desert.”
