NASA’s Curiosity rover has captured images of sand dunes present on the lower slopes of Mount Sharp on Mars. The images taken in late August show a layer of sandstone that the Curiosity team has been naming ‘Stimson unit’.

Stimson unit is present over a layer of mudstone, which was deposited on the place long ago. As per researchers, the dune must have formed like the petrified sand dunes are formed on earth, which is through blowing winds and then cemented into rocks.

NASA said, “Geometry and orientation of the crossbedding give information about the directions of the winds that produced the dunes”.

NASA is planning to use Curiosity to carry out drilling into the Stimson unit and assess the sandstone. The task that the US agency is planning to carry out later this month may help scientists to know more about the planet’s geographic past.

Late last year, the rover reached Mount Sharp and on Martian surface, it has reached in 2012. Since the time the rover has taken the photo, it has travelled more than 300 feet. It has been driving around on Mars since 2012 to gather all sorts of data.

On Friday, NASA has released the panoramic image from Curiosity. In addition of providing scientific information, the new image provides a spectacular view of the planet.