Another stunning image released by NASA on April 8 from Mars is making the rounds. This image shows an area covered by a sea of blue dunes surrounding the Red Planet's northern cap, where temperatures can reach as low as -150°C (-238°F).
The image also shows wind lines around the north cap of Mars. NASA said the section captured in the shot represents an area 19 miles. According to NASA, the dunes cover an area the size of Texas, the second largest state in the United States, which has an area of about 695,662 km².
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The photo is a false-color image, meaning the colors are representative of temperature. The US space agency noted that blue represents cooler climates, while shades of yellow and orange represent "sun-warmed dunes."
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This image is a composite of photographs taken from December 2002 to November 2004by the Mars Odyssey. Mars Odyssey is a robotic spacecraft orbiting Mars that uses a thermal imaging system to detect signs of water and ice on the planet.
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According to NASA, THEMIS on Odyssey can see “infrared reflections from the Martian surface.” Additionally, NASA noted that the image of the dunes “is part of a special set of images marking the 20th anniversary of Odyssey, the spacecraft that has spent longer on Mars than any other spacecraft. The robotic spacecraft was sent into orbit in April 2001 and has been capturing images of the planet Mars ever since.
Source of information: independent.co.uk
