Dune Archives - Astrobiology

A vantage point on "Vera Rubin Ridge" provided NASA's Curiosity Mars rover this detailed look back over the area where it began its mission inside Gale Crater, plus more-distant features of the crater. -- NASA/JPL/Caltech larger image

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Desert Worlds, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Tricorders & Sensors

Evidence Of Ancient Underground Water Reveals Mars May Have Stayed Habitable Longer Than Believed

by Keith CowingNovember 13, 2025November 13, 2025

Scientists from New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have uncovered new evidence that water once flowed beneath the surface of Mars, revealing that the planet may have remained habitable for […]

Two examples of Martian dunes with linear dune gullies. North is up in both images. (a) Linear dune gullies on a dune field in Galle crater (HiRISE image ESP_077477_1280_MIRB). (b) Linear dune gullies on a dune field in an unnamed crater in the centre of Hellas Planitia (HiRISE image ESP_051770_1345). -- Geophysical Research Letters

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Desert Worlds, Icy Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Press Release, Science Fiction

Mysterious Gullies On Mars Appear To Have Been Dug, But By Whom Or What?

by Keith CowingOctober 22, 2025October 22, 2025

Did life really exist on Mars after all? Unfortunately, there is no conclusive evidence for this yet. Nevertheless, it would seem that some form of life was the driving force […]

A thick plume of sand and dust from the Sahara Desert is seen in these images blowing from the west coast of Africa across the Atlantic Ocean. Larger image

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Desert Worlds, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release

When A Desert Planet And Ocean Planet Mix: A Saharan Dust Plume

by Keith CowingJune 6, 2025August 23, 2025

Sandstorms, which are common over the Sahara, occur when large amounts of dust particles from the desert are swept up by strong winds. They can float for days or even […]

The Rihat Structure

Astrogeology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Desert Worlds, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Science Fiction, Status Report

Orbital View Of A Desert World: No, This Is Not Sietch Tabr On Arrakis

by Keith CowingJuly 7, 2024August 23, 2025

This is not Sietch Tabr On Arrakis. It is the Rihat Structure, also known as the Eye of the Sahara – on our home world, Earth.