Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science

Wind erosion at Endurance Crater

There has been some discussion here and elsewhere about the beautifully aerodynamic pattern of the rim of Endurance crater - it seems to be a giant circular sand dune, in some ways.

Here's a nice photo showing the way that wind blowing up the crater wall has eroded the soft sulphate(?) rocks to be parallel to the slope of the crater wall - look at the tails to the spheroids on the rocks at bottom left!

Presumably, the different slopes of different parts of the wall are (in part) due to the pattern of prevailing winds...

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/pancam/2004-05-13/1P137517902EFF2208P2362R1M1.JPG

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