What’s in the photo? A group of large “star dunes” near the edge of the Sahara desert
Who took the photo? An unnamed astronaut on board the International Space Station
When was it taken? Dec. 21, 2023
This intriguing astronaut photo shows around a dozen giant “star dunes” as they slowly dance across a sandy field near the edge of the Sahara desert. The rare dunes, which are often confused with human-made pyramids, are likely several centuries old, recent research has revealed.
The unusual structures are located in Erg Chebbi. This field of open, windswept sand — or erg — covers around 65 square miles (170 square kilometers) in southwest Morocco along the northwestern edge of the Sahara. The erg is surrounded by flat lowlands but contains some of the tallest dunes in the Sahara, making it stand out like a mountain range when viewed from afar.
