Mars Weather Watch
Explanation:
Mars may be a
cold, dry planet
but its weather is dynamic.
On June 30, wide angle cameras on board the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS)
spacecraft watched the development of
this large scale storm system
above Mars' north polar area.
These frames were recorded on successive
mapping orbits at intervals of
about 2 hours, with the white
north polar cap near the center of each.
High winds seem to mix the brownish dust clouds and white water-ice
clouds as the curling storm front churns over the extreme northern
martain landscape.
The MGS cameras have watched similar storms in this region during the
months of July and August revealing
surprisingly complex weather.
Mars Climate Orbiter will join the MGS spacecraft in martian orbit in late
September, and in December
Mars Polar Lander is scheduled to touch
down near the Red Planet's south pole.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
