Astro-image of the day: Martian dust devils and scale

[mckitterick]

Mars might be a smaller planet with a thin atmosphere, but wow does it have some serious dust-devils. The top photo is a shot of one from space, the bottom image is a size comparison to such storms on Earth (and a comparison of largest mountains for added scale):


Click the images to see the story.

Best,
Chris

Comments

[renegade500.livejournal.com]

Seriously, that top photo reminds me of Munch's The Scream.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Cooool.

[frankwu.livejournal.com]

What's the status of the rovers? Are they dead yet from the dust? Or still alive and kickin'?

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Here's the latest news about their condition. Looks a bit dire... let's wish them well - they're good little rovers.

Best,
Chris

[frankwu.livejournal.com]

Ummm, yeah, doesn't look good for them. But, well, we'll keep hoping. Reminds me a little of the Sheckley story (about a Martian dust storm) "A Wind Was Rising."

[normalcyispasse.livejournal.com]

Damn, that's a crazy sense of scale.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Isn't that something?