In order to create sand dunes, a planet needs two things: sand grains of varying sizes and winds capable of carrying them. While dunes have been well-studied on Earth, we’ve never visited active ones on another planet until now. Mars has less than 1% of Earth’s atmosphere, yet the winds can move at speeds up to 60 mph (100 kph), a hostile environment for static structures. On occasion, wind storms can encircle the entire planet, and dust devils can reshape the terrain. The dunes Curiosity is visiting are found as it ascends Mount Sharp, between lower and higher altitudes. These dunes are active, having shifted by multiple meters over the few years we’ve observed them. By roving through them and ...
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