NASA's NISAR Captures "Hummingbird"-Like Pattern Beneath Antarctica's Ice - NDTV

Latest News About NISAR Satellite Spots Hummingbird Shaped Antarctic Landform

NASA's NISAR spacecraft captured a sharp radar image of East Antarctica showing a landform about the width of a major highway cut in the form of a hummingbird in flight. The unusual outline stretches across a broad region, and the radar sweep revealed fine details hidden beneath the snow cover. Scientists say the pattern comes from old glacial erosion combined with the land beneath the frozen sheet. Researchers describe the result as a quiet reminder of how ice sheets can carve rock into distinct shapes over long spans of time. The photo was released in early July as part of NASA's active program to map Antarctic ice with radar based tools. The agency highlights the mission as a new leap in ice science. Researchers also note that the work guides studies of glacier retreat and coastal risk. Officials add similar reads will run in the coming months. Images like this are likely to draw interest from both experts and the casual readers. The mission is being run jointly across two major space agencies. Officials say the satellite was designed to record tiny shifts in the ground level. The feature itself has already drawn wide online chatter. Several readers said the shape looked nearly lifelike.

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