'Yardangs' on the surface of Mars

These images of ‘yardangs’, features sculpted by wind-blown sand seen here near Olympus Mons on Mars, were obtained by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board the ESA Mars Express spacecraft.

This image was taken during orbit 143 with a resolution of 20 metres per pixel. The scene show a structure south of Olympus Mons at 6° N latitude and 220° E longitude, which was probably formed by the action of the wind.

This colour image was created from the nadir (vertical) and three colour channels; the perspective view is created from the nadir and stereo channels of the camera. The original resolution of the image is reduced for use on the internet.