The Yardangs Of Mars
Explanation:
OK, fans of classic science
fiction might be disappointed.
The yardangs are not barsoomian warriors in a newly discovered
Edgar
Rice Burroughs tale of adventure and conquest
on the
Red Planet.
In fact
yardangs, geologists' term for narrow, wind-eroded ridges,
are common
land features in the desert regions
of planet Earth.
Such
Eolian
(wind related) landforms are common
on Mars too,
and this recently released
Mars Global
Surveyor picture shows long, sculpted yardangs
in the eastern Aeolis region of southern Elysium
Planitia.
These martian yardangs may have formed in deposits of
volcanic ash.
Covering a swath of the martian surface 2.5 kilometers high,
this
composite image does offer special effects, though.
If you have
red/blue
glasses (red for the left eye)
you can view the yardangs of Mars in astounding 3-D!
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
