AI Generated Image
A colossal Martian dust devil swallowed another-astronomers stunned by surreal footage
Futura, le média qui explore le monde • • science
Key Points:
- Martian dust devils are swirling columns of warm air that lift dust as they move across the surface, first observed by NASA’s Viking orbiters in the 1970s and recently recorded audibly by the Perseverance rover in 2021.
- Capturing images of dust devils on Mars is rare and unpredictable, making Perseverance’s recent footage of a large dust devil engulfing a smaller one near Jezero Crater a remarkable and unique event.
- The largest dust devil in the footage measured about 65 meters across, while the smaller one was around 5 meters wide, with the smaller dust devil seemingly causing its own demise by approaching too closely.
- Dust devils on Mars typically last about ten minutes and play a crucial role in the planet’s atmosphere, contributing to roughly half of the airborne dust and providing valuable data on Martian wind patterns and weather.
