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Rover Video of Mars "Dust Devil"
You've probably seen dust devils swirling about on a windy day. They're basically mini-tornadoes that form when turbulent air sucks up some dust or snow or other debris into a column. Usually they're only a few feet high, but sometimes they can be much, much larger.
On Mars, apparently, they can apparently be several kilometers high, as attested by the above image captured by Spirit, one of the Mars Rovers. The animation (based on a series of pictures and available in a larger version here) shows a dust devil travelling from left to right across the Martian landscape. The surface there is so dusty that these columns of air are particularly noticeable, even from sattelite images as shown in this NASA article on the subject.
This is a graphic display that Mars does indeed have an atmosphere, and a strong one at that, despite having less than one percent of the pressure of our atmosphere here on earth.
The footage is a few months old, but we're huge Mars nuts and haven't seen it yet. If anybody's got any other similar clips or links to similar videos, let us know below.
From NASA
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Comments
51
Subscribe to commentsrobertOct 31st 2007 12:53PM
i didnt thank there was a atmosfear on mars so how could there be air to do that??
Matt AbrahamsenOct 31st 2007 1:32PM
If people are going to add a comment, make sure they know the basic grammar of the English language.
JimOct 31st 2007 1:41PM
Its Bushs Fault !
docOct 31st 2007 1:43PM
Matt Abrahamsen says:
If people are going to add a comment, make sure they know the basic grammar of the English language.
10/31/07 1:32 PM
*sigh* matt, shove your grammar, ok? the dust devil was cool though, too bad its black and white
elizabeth annOct 31st 2007 2:20PM
... OKAY Matt... I guess someone did not give you any candy today...lol..excuse me laugh outloud... I guess you are just trying to be mean like all the other comment natzi's...
lizzieOct 31st 2007 2:00PM
hhmmnn
Nate MeritOct 31st 2007 1:58PM
More evidence that the Martian atmosphere is not as thin as NASA falsely claims. There's a huge cover-up about Mars.
richOct 31st 2007 2:00PM
I didn't know there were trailer parks on Mars!!
BearsFan99Oct 31st 2007 2:12PM
Robert, Mars does have an atmosphere but has very thin air on its surface which would not be enough to support human, animal or even plant life. If Earth's atmosphere was like "grandma's quilt", then Mars' atmosphere would be like a very thin sheet of newspaper which is why the temparature on Mars can drop from 10 F in the daytime to -105 F at night as soon as the Sun sets! This is why we should take great care of the Earth we live on now because if we ruin our planet to the point where it becomes inhabitable to humans, where would we live? It's not like we can hop onto a rocketship and move to another planet.
tom.scanlanOct 31st 2007 2:14PM
a familiar sight to anyone living in the southwest. Some clouds would be nice. keep it up, rover!
Sharp Black MetalOct 31st 2007 2:15PM
More evidence that the Martian atmosphere is not as thin as NASA falsely claims. There's a huge cover-up about Mars.
Nate, I definitely agree with you. If any life forms have been discovered on Mars ( and I believe that they have) NASA and the government will not reveal that information to the public. If something of major significance had not already been discovered there, NASA would not still be "exploring" the planet.
michaelOct 31st 2007 2:21PM
man thats neat, but after tremendous technological and societal advances and the ability to broadcast animate images from Mars are we still only able to co ensign this phenomena with "dust devil." i hit myself.
D. B. CooperOct 31st 2007 2:38PM
Sharp Black Metal says "If something of major significance had not already been discovered there, NASA would not still be "exploring" the planet."
I agree. A friend of mine who knows someone who's cousin met a guy who drove past a pizza place where a NASA janitor orders his pizzas, says that NASA has photos of footprints on Mars, and that the footprints have only three toes! Straight from the source! Now you know that hasn't made the news, so there's some kind of coverup. And since the toeprints are visable that means that he (or she, not discriminating against gender) is walking around on Mars with NO SHOES!
BuzzinOct 31st 2007 2:46PM
Lovely view of Utah. - buzzin
Mr. Wm J RountryOct 31st 2007 2:51PM
**** damn i do have an agency to share with*****
I have been so rude all a long??
must be the cruel and mean spirited one that have been following and tormenting nearly my entire life??
HEY NASA AND YOU MARS AND MOON ROVER BOY'S AND GIRLS?...
HOW ABOUT A GET TOGETHER, (B.Y.O.B) POSSIBLE.
I HAVE MINE OF MARS THE MOON AND MANY OTHER PLANET'S IN FULL COLOR MOTION, WITH THE BEST SOUNDS IN THE HEAVENS??
I'LL HAVE TOO {TOOTE [blow] MY OWN HORN} LITTLE L OR A LOT,
NO ONE WANTS TOO KNOW THAT I EVEN EXIST>>
ISN'T THAT JUST SO HOORRID AND TERRIBLE.
DO HAVE SOME OF THE BEST PICTURES AVAILABLE!
KPOct 31st 2007 3:04PM
Hey Matt, your a jackazz is that enough grammer?
StoneyOct 31st 2007 3:12PM
I don't know why everyone cares so much about grammar on an internet news comment.
Interesting news though, would definately like to hear more.
wxcasterphxOct 31st 2007 3:20PM
Basically this is old hat. The JPL website dealing with both Rovers continously updates all photos on a daily basis. http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/gallery/press/
Enjoy......
LaMotta77Oct 31st 2007 3:47PM
DB Cooper, Hahahahhaa! That was hilarious!
elizabeth annOct 31st 2007 3:57PM
lol... the first martian dust bunny on film xoxo lol DB Cooper and the 3 toes....