PIA04736: North Polar Dune Patterns


North Polar Dune Patterns

Caption:

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-478, 9 September 2003

Dark, windblown sand forms spectacular geometric patterns in the north polar sand seas, particularly in regions where strong winds converge from different directions over the course of a year. This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) picture shows some of these dark dune patterns near 77.8°N, 284.4°W. The picture covers an area 3 km (1.9 mi) across and is illuminated by sunlight from the lower left.

Cataloging Keywords:

Name Value Additional Values
Target Mars
System
Target Type Planet
Mission Mars Global Surveyor (MGS)
Instrument Host Mars Global Surveyor
Host Type Orbiter
Instrument Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
Detector
Extra Keywords Dune, Grayscale
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2003-09-12
Date in Caption 2003-09-09
Image Credit NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA04736
Identifier PIA04736