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Marks on Martian Dunes May Be Tracks of Dry-Ice Sleds

PASADENA, Calif. — NASA research indicates hunks of frozen carbon dioxide — dry ice — may glide down some Martian sand dunes on cushions of gas similar to miniature hovercraft, plowing furrows as they go.

Researchers deduced this process could explain one enigmatic class of gullies seen on Martian sand dunes by examining images from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and performing experiments on sand dunes in Utah and California. (more…)

Northern Mars Landscape Actively Changing

By Guest PostFebruary 5, 2011Sciencecandice hansen, carbon dioxide ice, high resolution imaging science experiment, hirise, hirise camera, image, landscape, mars, martian dunes, martian years, nasa orbiter, north polar cap, northern mars, sand dunes, serina diniega, texas

Sand dunes in a vast area of northern Mars long thought to be frozen in time are changing with both sudden and gradual motions, according to research using images from a NASA orbiter.

These dune fields cover an area the size of Texas in a band around the planet at the edge of Mars’ north polar cap. The new findings suggest they are among the most active landscapes on Mars. However, few changes in these dark-toned dunes had been detected before a campaign of repeated imaging by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which reached Mars five years ago next month. (more…)

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Marks on Martian Dunes May Be Tracks of Dry-Ice Sleds

Northern Mars Landscape Actively Changing