“Sculpted by Martian winds,” huh?

This neat news story caught my eye, and the natural skeptic in me just has a hard time beleiving in those Martian winds!

‘Alien’ sand dunes found on Mars

Martian Surface

To look at it you’d think the landscape had been carved by aliens.

But these perfectly sculpted sand dunes, resembling crabs’ claws, were sculpted by the martian winds.

The images were photographed by a powerful camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. They come from within the Hellspontus region of the planet, where powerful winds blow from west to east.

The MRO probe is equipped with the most powerful camera ever sent into space. It also took detailed pictures of Phobos, the larger of Mars’ two moons. Less than 14 miles wide, the asteroid is covered with craters and mysterious grooves.

Chief Nasa investigator Professor Alfred McEwen, of the University of Arizona, said: “Phobos is of great interest because it may be rich in water ice and carbon-rich materials.”

Here’s to the inevitable photos of the Martian cities, which we will be told are tricks of light and shadow!

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5 Comments - you say something?


  • 14 April 20083:35 pm Hellcat

    Wow those look amazing. Thanks for posting.

    Reply

  • 14 April 200810:41 pm Thelma

    These truly ARE amazing, whatever they may be. Where’s Jodie Foster? I hope she is sitting by a HUGE satellite dish trying to ‘CONTACT’ these guys. hahah….sorry, I couldn’t help it.

    I am not as skeptical as you and am perfectly willing to accept that we are not the only life form. As Jodie/Ellie Arroway said: “The universe is a pretty big place. It’s bigger than anything anyone has ever dreamed of before. So if it’s just us… seems like an awful waste of space. Right?”

    Reply

    • 15 April 20088:47 am Vinnie Vegas

      Thelma,

      These structures don’t look like the result of a breeze to me! Nope, those must be Martian structures! I read a book about it years ago - “War of the Worlds!’ ;-)

      Reply

      • 15 April 20088:16 pm Thelma

        BWAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!!! ;-p

        Reply


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