Space & Astronomy

Curiosity braces for possible storm hit

By T.K. Randall
November 26, 2012 ·  6 comments

Image Credit: NASA Unlike storms on Earth, dust storms on Mars can grow so large that they encompass the whole planet. Scientists are keen to examine the data returned from the rovers and orbiter as there are many things about Martian dust storms that are not yet understood, including why some of them tend to die back down while others continue to grow. It is believed that both of NASA's rovers could be hit by the storm if it continues to increase in size and it isn't clear what affect this will have.

"This is now a regional dust storm," said chief Mars scientist Rich Zurek. "It has covered a fairly extensive region with its dust haze and it is in a part of the planet were some regional storms have grown into global dust hazes."

Source: The Space Reporter | Comments (6)

Tags: