The Mars Society

Chapter Links
Home
Members
Events
Projects
Gallery
Educational Outreach
Donations and Sponsors
Current Weather Reports
So you want to be an Astronaut
Mars Links

Mars Society Links
Mars Society
Founding Declaration
Mars Desert Research Station
Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station
Sign the Mars Petition




Requests concerning this Web site should be directed to the Webmaster.

General queries should be directed to MarsSocInfo@aol.com

Copyright © 2001 The Mars Society. All rights reserved.
  Mid-Winter Dust Storms Near Hellas Planitia
MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-280, 24 May 2001



Mid-Winter Dust Storms Near Hellas Planitia

This picture captures two dust storms, each large enough to cover Arizona or New Mexico. One is located near the lower left, the other at the lower right. Taken on April 8, 2001 (mid-southern winter), this is a mosaic of six MOC daily global images centered around Hellas Planitia in the martian southern hemisphere. Hellas Planitia is the dominant elliptical feature just below the center of the picture. The bright, nearly white surfaces along the lower (southern) edge of the picture are covered by wintertime frost. The strong temperature difference between the winter frost and the warmer air just off the edge of this polar cap generates winds that---at this time of year---are often strong enough to lift dust into large, reddish-brown, billowy clouds.
Previous Image  Next Image NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems