NASA’s Perseverance rover identified a dust devil while exploring the Jezero Crater on Mars.

Utilizing images taken by one of the rover’s Navigation Cameras (NavCams), a video was created (viewable below), comprising 21 frames captured at four-second intervals and accelerated by 20 times.

Resembling brief whirlwinds on Earth, these vertical wind columns emerge when pockets of hot air near the Martian surface swiftly ascend through the cooler air layers above.

The study of these phenomena aims to enhance scientists’ understanding of Mars’ atmosphere and refine their weather modeling capabilities, Science Alert reported.

The dust devil was observed at the western rim of the Jezero Crater in an area known as “Thorofare Ridge.” Analysis of the image data enabled mission scientists to determine that the dust devil was approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) from the rover and had a diameter of about 60 meters (200 feet).

Although the images captured only the lower 118 m (387 ft) of the swirling vortex, scientists could estimate its complete height.

They also calculated its east-to-west movement at speeds of approximately 19 km/h (12 mph).

Written by staff