NASA's Perseverance Rover Captures Dust Devil In Action On Mars


Perseverance, NASA's rover on Mars, observed a dust devil on the planet's surface

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The dust devil resembled the ones seen in desert regions on Earth

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This event was captured on August 30, 2023, on the western rim of Mars' Jezero Crater

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The rover used its Navcams to capture 24 frames, each taken four seconds apart

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Dust devils on Mars are smaller and weaker compared to tornadoes on Earth

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Studying Martian dust devils helps scientists understand the planet's atmosphere and improves weather models

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The dust devil was approximately 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) away from the rover and moving at a speed of about 19 kmph

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Its estimated width was around 200 feet (60 meters), and its full height was roughly 387 feet (118 meters)

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The shadow cast by the dust devil indicated its height, which was estimated to be about 1.2 miles (2 kilometers)

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