NASA Captures Stunning Star Dunes of the Sahara from Space

You could be forgiven for thinking that this was a photo of Mars, it's actually here on Earth.

Almost like a scene from Mars, or the Dune movies, astronauts aboard the International Space Station recently photographed Erg Chebbi, a vast sea of sand dunes spanning 11 miles by 5.5 miles in southeastern Morocco, close to the Algerian border.

Erg Chebbi is famed for its remarkable "star dunes" or pyramid dunes, named for their unusual structure. These dunes form when winds blow from different directions, causing sand to build into pyramid-like shapes with several ridges radiating out from a central peak. Some of these formations reach staggering heights, up to 1,000 feet, equivalent to a 100-story building.

This phenomenon is also found in remote desert regions like China's Badain Jaran Desert, where some of the world's tallest star dunes rise. These imposing formations are largely understudied, as they appear only in expansive deserts with varied wind conditions and abundant sand.

Each site provides specific factors that shape the height, stability, and complexity of these unique dunes, but their remote and harsh environments make detailed research challenging. As a result, star dunes remain both a geological curiosity and a scientific challenge, fascinating researchers despite the difficulties of accessing and studying them.

Though Erg Chebbi may seem barren, hidden aquifers lie beneath the sand, providing water to desert oases and sustaining plant life and local communities, such as the village of Merzouga. In the upper part of the image, you can even spot small camps originally established by indigenous nomadic tribes. Today, these camps cater to tourists who visit to experience the beauty and grandeur of the Sahara firsthand.

This photograph is a vivid reminder of Earth's astonishing diversity, revealing the stunning landscapes that exist in even the most seemingly inhospitable places. From space, the majesty of these sand dunes, each shaped by the forces of nature, offers a unique perspective on the wonders that Earth has to offer, hidden even in its most remote corners.