NASA has released a new image of a blue sand dune on Mars, which was taken by the space agency’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in late January.
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The image is in enhanced color or false color so it isn’t technically turquoise blue. Enhancing space photos allow scientists to see differences in texture, composition and details better.
“This particular dune, appearing like turquoise blue in enhanced color, is made of finer material and/or has a different composition than the surrounding” dunes, agency officials said.
The photo of the turquoise-hued dune was taken in the Lyot Crater region on Mars. The dune has a “more complex structure” than a group of barchan dunes to the south of it, NASA officials said in a press release. A barchan dune is a crescent-shaped dune with the convex side facing the direction of the wind.
Mars will also be close to the waning gibbous moon and will be visible June 30, according to Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Kirstie Zontini