Catching Dust Devils on Mars
June 26, 2001

A dust devil spotted in Amazonis Planitia in April 2001 More images

       NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft recently caught sight of a dust devil dancing across the Martian surface. It's not the first of the tornado-like weather systems to be found on Mars, but it's another reminder that Mars is an ever-changing planet.

       Dr. Ken Edgett, a staff scientist at Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego, Calif., regularly tracks the dust devils and other surface features on Mars. As the operator of the Surveyor orbiter's camera, he is one of the first to see fascinating images of the red planet. Dr. Edgett recently discussed the importance of dust devils and how they transform the look of Mars.

       Edgett's conversation and the latest dust devil pictures are at: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/features/dustdevils

       JPL manages the Mars Exploration Program for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, DC. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.