HiRISE | Polar Sand Dunes (PSP_009324

NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

Polar Sand Dunes
PSP_009324_2650 Science Theme: Seasonal Processes

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Mars has a vast sea of sand dunes in the high latitude region encircling its North polar cap, known as the North polar erg. These dunes are made up of basalt and gypsum sand grains. In some regions of the North polar erg where the sand supply is limited they take on an elongated crescent shape. The icy ground that the dunes are on top of has irregular polygonal patterns. In other areas with an abundant supply of sand the dunes are continuous (see also PSP_007494_2580).

The entire North polar erg is covered in the winter with a seasonal polar cap composed of carbon dioxide (dry ice). In the spring time this seasonal polar cap evaporates.

Written by: Candy Hansen (22 July 2009)

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Acquisition date:	23 July 2008	Local Mars time:	1:23 PM
Latitude (centered):	84.686 degrees	Longitude (East):	0.784 degrees
Range to target site:	320.0 km (200.0 miles)	Original image scale range:	32.0 cm/pixel (with 1 x 1 binning) so objects ~96 cm across are resolved
Map projected scale:	25 cm/pixel	Map projection:	POLAR STEREOGRAPHIC
Emission angle:	0.5 degrees	Phase angle:	60.9 degrees
Solar incidence angle:	60 degrees, with the Sun about 30 degrees above the horizon	Solar longitude:	102.4 degrees, Northern Summer
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North azimuth:	122 degrees	Sub-solar azimuth:	321.5 degrees
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North azimuth:	269.2 degrees	Sub solar azimuth:	111.0 degrees

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For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit: http://www.nasa.gov. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. The HiRISE camera was built by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation and is operated by the University of Arizona. The image data were processed using the U.S. Geological Survey’s ISIS3 software.