JPL
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
JPL Logo
JPL Logo
Image

Circular Sand Dunes

March 3, 2023
Context Image
Larger image for PIA25795
This image acquired on November 22, 2022 by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows dunes that are almost perfectly circular, which is unusual.
Context Image
Larger image for PIA25795

Sand dunes of many shapes and sizes are common on Mars. In this example, the dunes are almost perfectly circular, which is unusual.

They are still slightly asymmetrical, with steep slip faces on the south ends. This indicates that sand generally moves to the south, but the winds may be variable.

This is part of a series of images to monitor how frost disappears in the late winter; this observation appears to be free of frost. A previous image shows when the surface was covered by frost.

The map is projected here at a scale of 25 centimeters (9.8 inches) per pixel. (The original image scale is 30.3 centimeters [11.9 inches] per pixel [with 1 x 1 binning]; objects on the order of 91 centimeters [35.8 inches] across are resolved.) North is up.

The University of Arizona, in Tucson, operates HiRISE, which was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., in Boulder, Colorado. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Project for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington.

Download JPG
Download TIFF
Mission
Target
  • Mars
Spacecraft
  • Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)
Instrument
  • High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE)
Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

Keep Exploring

A Look at a Steep North Polar Scarp

Boulder Patterns

Glacial (Ice) or Lava Flow?

Gully Activity in Triolet Crater

Going with the Flow

A New Impact Event

A Bear on Mars?

Channels on a Streamlined Island of Kasei Vallis

Mysterious Crater Deposits

Tectonic, Volcanic and Fluvial Activity?

Related Topic

Video .

Perseverance's Mastcam-Z Views Ingenuity's 47th Takeoff

News .

Engineers Keep an Eye on Fuel Supply of NASA’s Oldest Mars Orbiter

Audio .

Episode 12: Secrets of the Mars Rovers

News .

NASA’s Curiosity Views First ‘Sun Rays’ on Mars

News .

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Set to Begin Third Year at Jezero Crater

News .

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Shows Off Collection of Mars Samples

News .

NASA’s Curiosity Finds Surprise Clues to Mars’ Watery Past

News .

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Completes Mars Sample Depot

Event Feb. 16, 2023 .

Perseverance: Two Years on Mars

Audio .

Episode 11: Digging In: When Rovers Get Dirt on Mars

About JPL
Who We Are
Executive Council
Directors
Careers
Internships
The JPL Story
JPL Achievements
Documentary Series
Annual Reports
Missions
Current
Past
Future
All
News
All
Earth
Solar System
Stars and Galaxies
Subscribe to JPL News
Galleries
Images
Videos
Audio
Podcasts
Apps
Visions of the Future
Slice of History
Robotics at JPL
Events
Lecture Series
Team Competitions
Speakers Bureau
Calendar
Visit
Public Tours
Virtual Tour
Directions and Maps
Topics
JPL Life
Solar System
Mars
Earth
Climate Change
Exoplanets
Stars and Galaxies
Robotics
More
Asteroid Watch
NASA's Eyes Visualizations
Universe - Internal Newsletter
Social Media
Get the Latest from JPL
Follow Us

JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech.

More from JPL
Careers Education Science & Technology Acquisitions JPL Store
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
Acquisitions
JPL Store
Related NASA Sites
Basics of Spaceflight
Climate Kids
Earth / Global Climate Change
Exoplanet Exploration
Mars Exploration
Solar System Exploration
Space Place
NASA's Eyes Visualization Project
Voyager Interstellar Mission
NASA
Caltech
Privacy
Image Policy
FAQ
Feedback
Site Managers: Veronica McGregor, Randal Jackson
Site Editors: Tony Greicius, Naomi Hartono
CL#: 21-0018