Angular Sand on Martian Hills
Explanation:
Why isn't this sand round?
The robotic
Spirit rover currently rolling
across
Mars has found
notably angular sand
in the
Columbia Hills on Mars.
Previously, small bits of sand found in the plains of
Gusev Crater were significantly
more round.
The finding indicates that angular hill
sand
has tumbled less and likely traveled a shorter distance than the
corresponding round plain sand.
Such tumbling has the general effect of making sand and rocks
increasingly round and with fewer sharp edges.
Pictured above, as
taken last month, are angular sand grains magnified by Spirit's
Microscopic Imager.
The above frame spans about three centimeters.
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.
