These dunes are a fleet of Star Fleet communicator badges ( combadge ) , aviate in constitution across the Martian Earth’s surface . The morphology of why this happens has nothing to do with Star Trek or conveyer beams , and everything to do with aerodynamics .
Why do these sand dune count like something ripped from the chest of Spock , Captain Kirk , or other unwary bunch from the Enterprise ? The smooth bend with long trailing points is characteristic shape of a barchan dune , commonly created by a modified Baroness Dudevant supplying let on to steady winds .
Dunes are an aeolian feature , created by the transportation of deposit by wind . Like raspberry , Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin dunes flee in V - formations due to the aerodynamics of upwash . The tips of the dunes ( or birds ) create an upward current in the zephyr , changing the deposit patterns for dunes further down - wind .
These are barchan dunes , the classical dune that forms in a flat landscape of limited guts and steady , one - guiding twist . The rounded top of the dune , a long , gentle side , faces into the wind , with a astute side and long horns dangling down - farting behind it . If the sediment supply increase , barchan dunes collide , eventually take shape long , irregular ridge called thwartwise dune .
Image credit : NASA / JPL / University of Arizona . For more HiRise exploration of Mars , consider theseweird construction , or thiseye - popping volcanic crater . For more on Star Trek , did you hearCaptain Kirk make headway a NASA award ?
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