Mighty Storm rages on Mars as fleet of robots is ready to watch

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<img data-attachment-id = "1925908" data-permalink = "https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2018/06/25/mighty-storm-works-on-mars-while-robot-fleet- stand-ready-to-watch / simulated-sun-veil-nasa-jpl-caltech-tamu / "data-orig-file =" https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/ 35/2018/06 / simulated-sun-veil-NASA-JPL-Caltech-TAMU.jpg "data-orig-size =" 1400 788 "data-comments-open =" 0 "data-image-meta =" {" aperture ":" 0 "," credit ":" "," camera ":" "," caption ":" "," created_timestamp ":" 0 "," copyright ":" "," focus_length ":" 0 " , "iso": "0", "shutter_speed": "0", "title": "", "orientation": "1"} "data-image-title =" simulated-sun-sail-NASA-JPL – Caltech-TAMU "data-image-description ="

A simulation of the sun's brightness in the sky of Opportunity because more dust fills the atmosphere above. The rightmost frame is the daylight conditions at the Rover Opportunity site today.

"data-medium-file =" https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/simulated-sun-veil-NASA-JPL-Caltech-TAMU-800×450. jpg "data-large-file =" https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/simulated-sun-veil-NASA-JPL-Caltech-TAMU-1020×574 .jpg "class =" medium-size wp-image-1925908 "src =" https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/simulated-sun-veil- NASA-JPL-Caltech-TAMU-800×450.jpg "alt =" A simulation of the brightness of the sun in the sky of Opportunity, because more dust fills the atmosphere above. The rightmost frame is the daylight conditions at the Rover Opportunity site today. "width =" 800 "height =" 450 "srcset =" https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/simulated-sun-veil-NASA-JPL- Caltech-TAMU-800×450.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/simulated-sun-veil-NASA-JPL-Caltech-TAMU-160×90 .jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/simulated-sun-veil-NASA-JPL-Caltech-TAMU-768×432.jpg 768w, https : //ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/simulated-sun-veil-NASA-JPL-Caltech-TAMU-1020×574.jpg 1020w, https: // ww2. kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/simulated-sun-veil-NASA-JPL-Caltech-TAMU-1200×675.jpg 1200w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science http://www.kqed.org/science/wp-content/ uploads / sites / 35/2018/06 / simulated-sun-sail-NASA-JPL-Caltech-TAMU-960×540.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35 / 2018/06 / simulated-sun-veil-NASA-JPL -Caltech-TAMU-240×135.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/ simulated-sun-veil-NASA-JPL-Caltech-TAMU-375×211.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/simulated-sun-veil -NASA-JPL-Caltech-TAMU-520×293.jpg 520w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/simulated-sun-veil-NASA-JPL- Caltech-TAMU.jpg 1400w "sizes =" (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px "/>

A simulation of the sun's brightness in the sky of Opportunity because more dust fills the atmosphere above. The rightmost frame is the daylight conditions at the Rover Opportunity site today. (NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS)

The opportunity has entered a low battery "sleep" mode to save the remaining power. When the dust disappears and the sunlight is restored, the Opportunity batteries recharge and, if all goes well, the rover will transmit "I'm alive! message to Earth, which humans are anxiously waiting for:

A learning opportunity

On the back of the planet, located almost halfway around the globe, the Curiosity rover stands ready to watch. As the storm continues in the coming days and weeks, Curiosity's observations will provide valuable insight into the development of the storm, how it affects conditions on the ground, and ultimately how it dissipates.

<img data-attachment-id = "1925920" data-permalink = "https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2018/06/25/mighty-storm-works-on-mars-while-robot-fleet- stand-ready-to-watch / curiosity-dustview-nasajplcaltechmsss / "data-orig-file =" https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/curiosity- dustview-NASAJPLCaltechMSSS.jpg "data-orig-size =" 4054,1808 "data-comments-open =" 0 "data-image-meta =" {"opening": "0", "credit": "", " camera ":" "," caption ":" "," created_timestamp ":" 0 "," copyright ":" "," functional_length ":" 0 "," iso ":" 0 "," shutter_speed ":" 0 "," title ":" "," orientation ":" 1 "}" data-image-title = "curiosity-dustview-NASAJPLCaltechMSSS" data-image-description = "

Images captured by the Curiosity rover in the crater of Gale, showing the increase of airborne dust from June 7 to June 10, attributed to the blowing wind storm over more than one quarter of the planet.

"data-medium-file =" https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/curiosity-dustview-NASAJPLCaltechMSSS-800×357.jpg "data-large-file = "https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/curiosity-dustview-NASAJPLCaltechMSSS-1020×455.jpg" class = "medium-size wp-image-1925920" src = "https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/curiosity-dustview-NASAJPLCaltechMSSS-800×357.jpg" alt = "Images captured by the rover Curiosity in the crater of Scabies, showing the increase of airborne dust from June 7 to June 10, attributed to the large windstorm blowing over more than a quarter of the planet. "width =" 800 "height =" 357 "srcset =" https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/curiosity-dustview-NASAJPLCaltechMSSS-800×357.jpg 800w , https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/curiosity-dustview-NASAJPLCaltechMSSS-160×71.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/ wp-content / uploads / sites / 35/2018/06 / curiosity-dustview-NASAJPLCaltechMSSS-768×343.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06 /curiosity-dustview-NASAJPLCaltechMSSS-1020×455.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/curiosity-dustview-NASAJPLCaltechMSSS-1200×535.jpg 1200w, https : //ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/curiosity-dustview-NASAJPLCaltechMSSS-1180×526.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp- content / uploads / sites / 35/2018/06 / curiosity-dustview-NASAJPLCaltechMSSS-960×428.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/curiosity -dustview- NASAJPLCaltechMSSS-240×107.jp g 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/curiosity-dustview-NASAJPLCaltechMSSS-375×167.jpg 375w, https: // ww2 .kqed.org / science / wp-content / uploads / sites / 35/2018/06 / curiosity-dustview-NASAJPLCaltechMSSS-520×232.jpg 520w "sizes =" (maximum width: 800px) 100vw, 800px "/>

Images captured by the Curiosity rover in the crater of Gale, showing the increase of airborne dust from June 7 to June 10, attributed to the blowing wind storm over more than one quarter of the planet. (NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS)

In fact, since the lower slopes of Mount Sharp in the crater of Gale, Curiosity has detected a flurry of dust in the atmosphere that surrounds it – enough to appear on camera.

Curiosity is not vulnerable to the smothering of sunlight by atmospheric dust because it is powered by a nuclear generator.

A team of robots

In addition to having wheels on the ground to watch this storm, NASA has three spacecraft in orbit that will also do a study of this great dusting event, each with instruments that offer unique scientific perspectives.

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter – which alerted NASA about the developing storm on May 30 – offers a global view with its wide-angle camera, MARCI, as well as the ability to study localized effects with its powerful HiRISE camera .

<img data-attachment-id = "1925919" data-permalink = "https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2018/06/25/mighty-storm-works-on-mars-while-robot-fleet- stand-ready-to-watch / June11-storm / "data-orig-file =" https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/june11-storm. jpg "data-orig-size =" 705,394 "data-comments-open =" 0 "data-image-meta =" {"opening": "0", "credit": "", "camera": "", "caption": "", "created_timestamp": "0", "copyright": "", "focal": "0", "iso": "0", "shutter_speed": "0", "title": "", "orientation": "0"} "data-image-title =" june11-storm "data-image-description ="

Mars map from images captured by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on June 11th. The lighter orange region shows the extent of the raging major windstorm where the Opportunity rover is located, and reaching half of the globe.

"data-medium-file =" https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/june11-storm.jpg "data-large-file =" https: / /ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/june11-storm.jpg "class =" size-full wp-image-1925919 "src =" https: // ww2. kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/june11-storm.jpg "alt =" Map of Mars from images captured by Mars NASA's Reconnaissance Orbiter on June 11 . The lighter orange region shows the extent of the raging major wind storm where the Opportunity rover is located, and reaching halfway around the globe on Opportunity opportunity. "width =" 705 "height =" 394 "srcset =" https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/june11-storm.jpg 705w, https: / http://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/ sites / 35/2018/06 / june11-storm-240×134.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed. org / science / wp-content / uploads / sites / 35/2018/06 / june11-storm-375×210.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018 /06/june11-storm-520×291.jpg 520w "sizes =" (maximum width: 705px) 100vw, 705px "/>

Mars map from images captured by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on June 11th. The lighter orange region shows the extent of the raging major windstorm where the Opportunity rover is located, and reaching half of the globe. (NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS)

Mars Odyssey can detect and measure the density and distribution of dust in the atmosphere below, with its infrared camera, THEMIS.

MAVEN will study the highest levels of the Mars atmosphere to look for connections between the activity of dust storms and the loss of atmospheric gases in space, following observations from others. spacecraft.

The three orbiters and a rover will work together to give us a complete overview of the effects of the storm.

The winds of Mars

Windstorms of different scales occur each Martian year, excited by surface heating from sunlight, especially when Mars passes closest to the sun with each orbit. Sometimes an isolated Martian flurry can become a much larger storm.

And every three to four Martian years (six to eight Earth years) a windstorm can push to encircle the globe, raising huge amounts of dust that cover the planet – like the one we see on Mars now.

<img data-attachment-id = "1925907" data-permalink = "https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2018/06/25/mighty-storm-works-on-mars-while-robot-fleet- stand-ready-to-watch / march-beforeandafter-nasajpl-caltechmsss / "data-orig-file =" https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/ mars-beforeandafter-NASAJPL-CaltechMSSS.jpg "data-orig-size =" 1600,852 "data-comments-open =" 0 "data-image-meta =" {"opening": "0", "credit": "", "camera": "", "caption": "", "created_timestamp": "0", "copyright": "", "focus_length": "0", "iso": "0", "shutter_speed ":" 0 "," title ":" "," orientation ":" 1 "}" data-image-title = "march-beforeandafter-NASAJPL-CaltechMSSS" data-image-description = "

Two photos of Mars taken one month apart in 2001, before (left) and during a major global dust storm. The images were taken by the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft.

"data-medium-file =" https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/mars-beforeandafter-NASAJPL-CaltechMSSS-800×426.jpg "data-large- file = "https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/mars-beforeandafter-NASAJPL-CaltechMSSS-1020×543.jpg" class = "medium-size wp-image -1925907 "src =" https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/mars-beforeandafter-NASAJPL-CaltechMSSS-800×426.jpg "alt =" Two pictures of Mars took a month apart in 2001, before (left) and during a major global dust storm. The images were taken by the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. "width =" 800 "height =" 426 "srcset =" https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/mars-beforeandafter-NASAJPL-CaltechMSSS-800×426. jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/mars-beforeandafter-NASAJPL-CaltechMSSS-160×85.jpg 160w, https: //ww2.kqed. http://www.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads /35/2018/06/mars-beforeandafter-NASAJPL-CaltechMSSS-1020×543.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/mars-beforeandafter- NASAJPL-CaltechMSSS-1200×639.jpg 1200w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/mars-beforeandafter-NASAJPL-CaltechMSSS-1180×628.jpg 1180w, https: //ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/mars-beforeandafter-NASAJPL-CaltechMSSS-960×511.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp -content / uploads / sites / 35/2018/06 / march-beforeandafter-NASAJPL-Caltec hMSSS-240×128.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018 /06/mars-beforeandafter-NASAJPL-CaltechMSSS-375×200.jpg 375w, https: //ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/mars-beforeandafter-NASAJPL-CaltechMSSS- 520×277.jpg 520w, https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/mars-beforeandafter-NASAJPL-CaltechMSSS.jpg 1600w "sizes =" (maximum width: 800px) 100vw, 800px " />

Two photos of Mars taken one month apart in 2001, before (left) and during a major global dust storm. The images were taken by the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. (NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS)

When the first spacecraft to orbit Mars, Mariner 9, arrived in 1971, a major global dust storm was in full swing. Mariner 9 had to wait a few months before the dust settled before he was able to take clear pictures of the Mars surface.

Today 's breakup has now officially become one of those global wind storms, and it' s already called the most powerful storm ever seen on Mars. Scientists are full of hope for the unexpected benefits of science.

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