Springtime dust storm swirls at Martian North Pole

17 Jun 2002

Two Hubble Space Telescope images of Mars, taken about a month apart on September 18 and October 15, 1996, reveal a Texas-sized dust storm churning near the edge of the Martian north polar cap. Observers say the polar storm is probably a consequence of large temperature differences between the polar ice and the dark regions to the south, which are heated by the springtime Sun.

Mars is famous for large, planet-wide dust storms. Smaller storms resembling the one seen here were observed in other regions by Viking orbiters in the late 1970s. However, this is the first time that such an event has been caught near the receding north polar cap. This kind of advanced planetary "weather report" will be invaluable for aiding preparation for the landing of NASA's Pathfinder spacecraft in July 1997 and the arrival of Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) orbiter in September 1997. The MGS mission is scheduled for launch on this week, and the Mars Pathfinder is scheduled for launch December 2.