As NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity creeps farther into "Endurance Crater," the dune field on its floor appears ever more dramatic.  Sinuous tendrils of sand less than 1 meter (3.3 feet) high extend from the main dune field into the direction of the rover. This false-color image shows that the dune crests have accumulated more dust than the flanks of the dunes and the flat surfaces between them.  Also evident is the bluer tint of the flat surfaces compared with the dune flanks.  This results from the presence of the hematite spherules ("blueberries") that accumulate on the flat surfaces. 

Scientists hope to send the rover down to one of these tendrils in an effort to learn more about the characteristics of the dunes.  Because dunes are a common feature across the surface of Mars, knowledge gleaned from investigating the Endurance dunes close-up may apply to similar dunes elsewhere. The rover drivers must first establish whether the slippery slope that leads to the dunes is firm enough to ensure a successful drive back out before driving down to them.  Such hazards make the dune field a true sand trap.





Image Credit:  NASA/JPL/Cornell  

APPROVED BY: Steve Ruff/Jim Bell

CAPTION WRITER:  Colleen Sharkey 818/625-0653 cell

RELEASE DATE:  August 6, 2004

IMAGE FILE NAME: Sol187B_P2546_L257false.jpg  

SOURCE FILE NAME(S):1P144794090SFL3412P2546L2M1 

SUMMARY INFORMATION:  false-color pancam of dunes in bottom of Endurance

NAME OF SUBMITTER: Jim Bell

INSTITUTION: Cornell

THEME/TEAM/GROUP: Pancam

SOL OF OBSERVATION: 187  

EARTH DATE OF OBSERVATION: August 2, 2004 

TITLE OF IMAGE: Dazzling Dunes (false-color)

CAPTION:  Above



<br> USERNAME: shlieven