A admixture of rock and sand greeted the Curiosity Rover as it approaches the Bagnold Dune field of honor , the dunes tardily encroach on brave out outcrop . This is our first sojourn to fighting dune anywhere but on Earth .
Curiosity is presently taking photos as it inch nigher and closer to thedark sandsof the Bagnold Dunes . Once it reach out its mark dune , it ’ll use its scoopful to collect a sample for analysis , and sideswipe the gumption with a cycle to scuff a bracing airfoil to ogle the dune ’s Department of the Interior .
The position of the Curiosity Rover is mark on the satellite picture below , near the nerve center . Interestingly , none of the rock outcrop share the distinct morose color that would signal an easy source for freshly - fret sediment .
Curiosity ’s path is tag with a tenuous yellow line and tiny black datestamps . Image credit : NASA
The dark Bagnold Dunes are composed at least in part of olivine , a mineral rough-cut to dark volcanic rock ( basalt ) . Researchers are hope Curiosity will be able to determine if the wind is sorting minerals , separating heavy olivine from other minerals .
The Bagnold Dunes are active : satellite images reveal them crawl about a meter ( 3 foot ) per year . This is our first up - skinny look at Martian sand dune , in direct contrast to sand riffle and purport . Unlike ripples or drifts , dune have enough sand that the windblow deposit can slide down the steep lee face .
The grain of Martian dunes is different than here on Earth . Mission contriver for the dune expedition Nathan Bridges explains :
“ The ripples on them are much orotund than ripple on top of dune on Earth , and we do n’t know why . We have good example based on the lower air press . It take a higher wind speed to get a mote move . But now we ’ll have the first chance to make detailed observations . ”
A colourized version of the Bagnold Dunes assembled from multiple frame . Image processing may have over - darkened the dunes . picture credit : NASA / Paul Hammond
Interesting geological features in this area will be named for Nambian geologic place names in a protection to the Namib Desert that has offered such an excellent terrene parallel for interpreting Martian dunes and playas .
[ The Bagnold Dunes at Gale Crater|NASA ]
reach out to the author at[email protected]or keep up her at@MikaMcKinnon .
Mars
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