SPACE PHOTOS THIS WEEK: Star Dunes, Comet Probe, More

SPACE PHOTOS THIS WEEK: Star Dunes, Comet Probe, More
<< Previous   2 of 5   Next >>
July 2, 2008—A field of starlike dunes sparkles on Mars in a new image from HiRISE, the high-resolution camera on-board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Star dunes are also found on Earth, but scientists still don't fully understand the windblown features.

This particular field of star dunes near Schiaparelli Crater is flanked by linear ripples known as Transverse Aeolian Ridges (TARs).

Such features are evidence of the interaction between a planet's atmosphere and its surface, and they allow scientists to study both.

More Photos in the News
Today's Top 15 Most Popular Stories
Free Email Newsletter: "Focus on Photography"
—Image by NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
 

EMAIL NEWSLETTER Photos and News of the Week

Get the top photos and news of the week from National Geographic News, plus occasional breaking-news alerts.

See Sample >>
Please enter a valid email address
Privacy Policy
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS




 

Photo and Headline Widget

Put our latest news and photos on your Web page or desktop—automatically updates! See Sample