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Martian Racetracks

Posted by michael on from the because-of-all-the-sandwiches-there dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The European Mars Express spacecraft has released stunning images of 'yardangs': racetrack-like grooves eroded from an otherwise flat plain without obstacles. The terrain in high resolution is shown near the largest volcano in our solar system, Olympus Mons. Notable in the image is an abrupt left turn like the beginnings of a curved terrace."

2 of 18 comments (clear)

  1. Spaceballs? by pio!pio! · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Comb the desert!~!!" "We ain't found shxt!!"

  2. yet another misleading slashdot article by SuperBanana · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ...and the Astrobiology Magazine writeup wasn't any better. Siiigh. If you were expecting ovals or road course, I hate to disappoint.

    The images show nothing more than long straight canyons/valleys, all running in the same direction because the wind blows that way for long periods of time.

    The image of the little blue-suited astronaut inspecting the curious tracks is also grossly out of scale. They're the size of large hills, not a few inches wide:

    This image was taken during orbit 143 with a resolution of 20 meters per pixel.

    --
    Please help metamoderate.