The dune appears blue in an enhanced-color image taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), though it's actually a grayish hue. The visual effect comes from upping the contrast, a trick that allows researchers to see more detail in images of Mars.
The dune is located in the red planet's Lyot Crater, a large crater on Mars that is known for its patterned ground.
"It is made of finer material and/or has a different composition than the surrounding [dunes]," NASA said.
The MRO originally captured the image in January 2018.
Another look at the sand dune found on Mars, without the colors enhanced.NASA
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