Amazing ripples on Mars leaves astronomers mesmerised

The space agency said: “The mega-ripples appear blue-green on one side of an enhanced colour cutout while the TAR appear brighter blue on the other. 

“This could be because the TAR are actively moving under the force of the wind, clearing away darker dust and making them brighter. 

“All of these different features can indicate which way the wind was blowing when they formed. 

“Being able to study such variety so close together allows us to see their relationships and compare and contrast features to examine what they are made of and how they formed.”

MRO was launched in 2005 and reached Mars just under a year later in 2006.

The stunning image snapped by MRO was at Gamboa Crater in the Martian northern hemisphere. 

NASA added: “Though Mars is the Red Planet, false-colour images can help us learn about its weather and geology. 

“This image shows a variety of wind-related features on the Red Planet near the centre of Gamboa Crater. 

“Larger sand dunes form sinuous crests and individual domes.

“There are tiny ripples on the tops of the dunes, only several feet from crest-to-crest. 

“These merge into larger mega-ripples about 30 feet apart that radiate outward from the dunes.”