2005-10-31 | SCIENCE
Earthlings Will Get a Better View of Mars
A dust storm has recently broken out on Mars, and may be visible for amateur astronomers while Mars makes a close approach to Earth. This weekend, only 43 million miles (69 million kilometers) will separate Earth from Mars. That's an enormous distance. But it's only about one-third of the average 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) between the two planets.
Major weather events on Mars are typically in the form of dust storms that can reach massive proportions. The surface of Mars is covered in fine dust, allowing storms to grow and spread at rapid speeds. Monitoring the weather patterns on Mars is important for future exploration of the planet because Martian dust particles are so fine they can easily enter and damage joints on mechanical equipment. Increased knowledge about Martian weather may provide future explorers, both human and robotic, with the means to detect oncoming storms in time to prepare for what could be a long time spent under shelter. The protection of both robotic and human missions from violent weather is vital for ensuring the success of current and future missions to Mars.
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from NASA - JPL, Oct 31, 2005
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