{"id":630885,"date":"2026-09-20T23:20:20","date_gmt":"2026-09-20T23:20:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/630885\/"},"modified":"2026-09-20T23:20:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-20T23:20:20","slug":"mars-raspberry-ripples-ice-volcanic-rock-unveiled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/630885\/","title":{"rendered":"Mars Raspberry Ripples: Ice, Volcanic Rock Unveiled"},"content":{"rendered":"

The vibrant Mars landscape captured: Mars\u2019s spectacular raspberry<\/p>\n

An incredible new image from ESA<\/a>\u2019s Mars<\/a> Express brings a stunning palette of Mars\u2019s surface near the south pole to life. The image, with its enthralling mix of purples, pinks, and reds, reveals a dramatic landscape<\/a> enhanced by ice patches and dark terrain. These formations have been fittingly named Raspberry Ripples, showcasing the striking red hues in breathtaking detail.<\/p>\n

The photograph prominently features Thyles Rupes, a remarkable cliff system in Mars\u2019s ancient southern highlands, where cliffs rise over a kilometer above the surrounding base. Captured on February 17, 2026, by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) aboard Mars Express, the scene vividly portrays the planet\u2019s geological wonders, also highlighting its spectacular landscape.<\/p>\n

Understanding the kaleidoscope of colors in this Martian wonder<\/p>\n

Mars\u2019s dark terrain is a remnant of its volcanic past. The surface contains volcanic sands rich in minerals like olivine and pyroxene, resembling those found in Earth\u2019s mantle. Wind has distributed these sands over vast areas, contributing to the landscape\u2019s dusky hues and adding to the vivid appearance.<\/p>\n

\"SwirlsESA\u2019s Mars Express has imaged beautiful swirls of purple, pink, and red near Mars\u2019s south pole. Credit: ESA\/DLR\/FU Berlin<\/p>\n

The brighter areas tell a story of their own. Carbon dioxide frost, captured in the Martian morning light, cloaks parts of the landscape, including dunes and impact craters. A section of the South Polar ice cap is also visible, glowing in the lower-left corner, accentuating the vast icy expanse within this remarkable scenery.<\/p>\n

The shifting Martian atmosphere, a dusty veil that varies over time, combines with the frost and light to create the unique berry-purple appearance in these images, adding to the captivating view ESA\u2019s views<\/a> provide.<\/p>\n

\"DetailedTopographic map of Thyles Rupes on Mars. Credit: Credit: ESA\/DLR\/FU BerlinThyles Rupes: A testament to Mars\u2019s ancient past<\/p>\n

Thyles Rupes lies in Mars\u2019s southern highlands, an area with some of the planet\u2019s oldest terrain. Layered with impact craters, this area reveals its history through both sharply defined and eroded, ancient craters. These cliffs weave through the cratered terrain, providing insights into the sequence of geological events.<\/p>\n

\"3DThe Thyles Rupes region of Mars in 3D. Credit: ESA\/DLR\/FU Berlin<\/p>\n

The cliffs\u2019 formation is attributed to tectonic forces. As Mars cooled, the crust deformed, creating dramatic elevations. Today, these majestic cliffs rise more than a kilometer in height, representing ancient tectonic activity preserved in the Martian crust, forming part of this colorful spectacle.<\/p>\n

To explore Earth\u2019s tectonic activity mirrored on Mars, dive into designing life-supporting habitats<\/a> on Mars and the Moon<\/a>, showcasing human ingenuity in extraterrestrial environments.<\/p>\n

\"ThylesThyles Rupes and craters. Credit: ESA\/DLR\/FU BerlinDunes and the dance of Martian winds<\/p>\n

Frost-softened dunes spread across the region, their appearances altering as Martian winds shift the sand and dust. Despite Mars\u2019s thin atmosphere, these winds are potent enough to continuously reshape the landscape\u2019s dunes over time.<\/p>\n

\"AerialA view of Thyles Rupes from above. Credit: ESA\/DLR\/FU Berlin<\/p>\n

Varied dune formations around Thyles Rupes reveal the complexity of Mars\u2019s aeolian processes. Longitudinal dunes stretch into ridges, transverse dunes cut across the wind, and barchanoid ridges curve like graceful sickles, each illustrating the wind\u2019s relentless influence.<\/p>\n

\"Ice-coveredIce-covered dunes near Thyles Rupes. Credit: ESA\/DLR\/FU Berlin<\/p>\n

These formations offer researchers valuable data on sediment transport and wind patterns over the planet\u2019s surface, a mystery unraveled by ESA\u2019s Mars Express.<\/p>\n

For more insights into geological wonders, learn how NOAA uncovered lost artifacts<\/a> in the depths of the Gulf of Mexico<\/a>, merging history with exploration.<\/p>\n

\"AA glacier near Thyles Rupes. Credit: ESA\/DLR\/FU Berlin<\/p>\n

Clear skies provide an unobstructed view of these magnificent scenes, inviting us to explore further the enduring geological secrets of this vibrant landscape on the Red Planet.<\/p>\n

Source: diyphotography.net<\/a><\/p>\n

Frequently asked questions What are Raspberry Ripples on Mars?<\/p>\n

Raspberry Ripples is the name given to the vibrant red and pink hues of Mars\u2019s surface near the south pole, revealed in a stunning image from ESA\u2019s Mars Express.<\/p>\n

What is Thyles Rupes on Mars?<\/p>\n

Thyles Rupes is a remarkable cliff system located in Mars\u2019s ancient southern highlands, with cliffs rising over a kilometer above the surrounding base.<\/p>\n

How are Mars\u2019s cliffs formed?<\/p>\n

Mars\u2019s cliffs are formed by tectonic forces. As Mars cooled, the crust deformed, creating dramatic elevations preserved in the Martian crust.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The vibrant Mars landscape captured: Mars\u2019s spectacular raspberry An incredible new image from ESA\u2019s Mars Express brings a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":630886,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[61,60,82],"class_list":["post-630885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-science","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-science"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/630885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=630885"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/630885\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/630886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=630885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=630885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=630885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}