WASHINGTON: The red planet Mars seems to be turning blue. The latest image from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Mars Express spacecraft shows what appears to be two deep blue patches on the planet’s surface.
The photograph is part of a series of “blue” images taken on the red planet, which include a blue-tinted sunset and blue auroras.
According to the space agency, the blue spots are in actuality layers of dark, volcanic rock being blown by Martian wind. The ESA explained the blue color is an “optical illusion caused by the image processing.”
“The blue-hued patches lying within the ragged craters are actually dark sediments that have built up over time,” the ESA said.
The latest photograph was taken when the Mars Express passed over Mars’ Arabia Terra region, which is known for numerous craters of various sizes. These features on the planet’s surface can become eroded over a long period of time.
The ESA said winds on the red planet can reach speeds of up to 62 miles per hour. Winds at these speeds can create massive dust storms that can last for days or weeks. They can also contribute to the erosion of features on the Martian surface over the course of millions of years, sending materials to different parts of the planet.
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