Erosion On Mars? NASA Orbiter Clicks Amazing Pics Of Red Planet's Soil Erosion
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has gained universal recognition for sending the most mesmerising shots of our neighbouring Red Planet.?
Currently, the orbiter is locked into Mars' orbit for observation.Since taking on such hefty duties, Reconnaissance has beamed back breathtaking images of dunes, ice caps, craters and other natural formations on the deserted planet.?
Now, the orbiter has sent back images of Martian rocks that have undergone some degree of erosion due to winds.Shared in an Instagram post on September 5, the images highlight Mars' Ma'adim Vallis outflow channel, which is a large area where water lakes once existed on the planet.?
Also read:?Detailed Pics Of NASA Perseverance Rover Drilling Hole In Martian Rock 'Rochette'
Why are these Martian patterns remarkable??
NASA explained that the intricate and beautiful patterns were a product of wind's erosive power. While erosion is mostly associated with water and fire, the wind can also cause remarkable erosion over time.
Check out the Instagram post below
?¡°Just as water and lava can leave their marks on a landscape, the wind is also an extremely powerful and erosive force¡±, NASA's Instagram caption read.The Mars orbiter is equipped with a High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera, which clicked the fascinating images.?
Also read:?Scientists Find Strong Clues Of 'Ninth Planet' In Our Solar System, Not Pluto
The outflow channel shown in the images is roughly 700 kilometres long and depicts rocky land filled with shallow and wide pits that formerly held water bodies.In fact, the lines on the surface signify the direction of the wind as it caused erosion.?
Are you mesmerised by these beautiful images from our elusive red neighbour? If space exploration goes as expected, a few lucky humans could make it onto Mars within the coming decade - opening a new doorway into understanding the origins of Mars, Earth, and our solar system.
For more stories that unearth universe's hidden secrets, keep reading /. And let us know in the comments below if you need more Mars updates to read on a weekly basis.
