NASA’s Perseverance Rover Captures a Rare and Dramatic Martian Dust Devil Collision
Dust devils are swirling columns of dust that dance across the surface of Mars’ rust-colored plains, where time and wind have shaped the landscape. These dynamic atmospheric phenomena, driven by the planet’s unique environmental conditions, are a common sight in regions like Jezero Crater, where NASA’s Perseverance rover recently recorded a breathtaking event: A big dust devil snatching up and swallowing a little one. This rare collision, captured in vivid detail by the rover’s navigation cameras, offers a window into the complex and ever-changing Martian atmosphere, shedding light on the forces that shape the Red Planet’s weather and terrain.
A Dramatic Clash of Martian Vortices
The striking footage, recorded on January 25 at a site on the western rim of Jezero Crater dubbed “Witch Hazel Hill,” showcases a mesmerizing interaction between two dust devils. Perseverance, positioned approximately 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) from the event, used its navigation camera to document the scene as part of an ongoing experiment to study Mars’ atmospheric dynamics. The larger dust devil, a towering vortex roughly 210 feet (65 meters) in diameter, dominated the interaction, swiftly overtaking a smaller companion measuring about 16 feet (5 meters) across. In the background, two additional dust devils added to the spectacle, their faint silhouettes weaving through the dusty haze.
The sequence of images, stitched together into a video, reveals the larger dust devil absorbing the smaller one in a display of atmospheric power. This interaction, though brief, highlights the unpredictable and chaotic nature of Martian weather. Dust devils, often referred to as convective vortices, are a hallmark of Mars’ thin atmosphere, where temperature differences between the surface and the air above fuel their formation. The Perseverance team, led by scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, seized this opportunity to deepen their understanding of these phenomena, which play a pivotal role in the planet’s climate and geology.
Dust devils can act like fiends, according to Mark Lemmon, a planetary scientist with the Perseverance science team at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado. “These spinning columns of air roam the Martian surface, sweeping up dust and reducing visibility in their paths. When two dust devils cross paths, the outcome is uncertain—they might destroy each other in a clash of opposing forces, or, as we saw here, the stronger one can consume the weaker, growing in intensity.”
The Science Behind Martian Dust Devils
A big dust devil snatching up and swallowing a little one. During the Martian day, the planet’s surface—warmed by the Sun— heats the air immediately above it. This warm air rises through the cooler, denser air above, creating an updraft. As surrounding air rushes in to replace the rising column, it begins to rotate, forming a vortex. The process is akin to a figure skater pulling in their arms to spin faster: as the incoming air converges, it accelerates, tightening the rotation of the vortex. Dust and fine particles from the surface are drawn into the spinning column, giving the dust devil its visible form and characteristic reddish hue.
Dust devils vary greatly in size and intensity. Some, like the smaller vortex in Perseverance’s footage, are modest, spanning just a few meters. Others, like the larger one, can stretch hundreds of feet across and tower thousands of feet into the sky. Their lifespans are typically short, lasting only a few minutes before dissipating as the conditions driving their rotation weaken. On Mars, where the atmosphere is about 1% as dense as Earth’s, these vortices are a critical mechanism for redistributing dust, which influences everything from surface erosion to global weather patterns.
“Dust devils are more than just curious spectacles—they’re key players in Martian meteorology,” explained Katie Stack Morgan, the project scientist for Perseverance at JPL. “They help us map wind patterns, measure atmospheric turbulence, and understand how dust is lifted into the air. About half of the dust suspended in Mars’ atmosphere is attributed to dust devils, making them essential to studying the planet’s climate and preparing for future exploration.”
A Legacy of Dust Devil Observations
Perseverance is not the first NASA mission to encounter these swirling phenomena. The agency’s Viking orbiters, launched in the 1970s, provided the earliest photographic evidence of dust devils from above, revealing their widespread presence across Mars’ surface. In the 1990s, the Mars Pathfinder mission captured the first surface-level images of a dust devil and even detected one passing over its lander, offering direct evidence of their interaction with the environment. The Spirit and Opportunity rovers, which explored Mars in the 2000s, documented numerous dust devils, some of which fortuitously cleaned dust from their solar panels, extending their operational lives.
The growing volume of data has been supplemented by more recent observations of dust devils by the Curiosity rover, which is currently stationed in Gale Crater, on the other side of Mars from Perseverance. Since its February 2021 arrival in Jezero Crater, Perseverance itself has been a frequent observer. One notable moment came on September 27, 2021, When the rover deployed its SuperCam microphone to record a group of dust devils swirling across the crater floor, it produced the first-ever audio of a Martian dust devil—a faint whooshing sound that gave the phenomena a new dimension.
However, dust devil capture still depends on luck and perseverance. Unlike storms on Earth, which can often be predicted, Martian dust devils appear without warning, their formation tied to local conditions that are difficult to anticipate. Perseverance’s science team employs a strategy of constant vigilance, using the rover’s cameras to scan the horizon in all directions. When patterns emerge—such as dust devils appearing more frequently at certain times of day or from specific directions—the team adjusts its monitoring to maximize the chances of catching additional events.
“If you’re rooting for the underdog in our latest video, take heart,” Lemmon said with a smile. “It’s likely that the bigger dust devil that ingested the smaller one didn’t survive for very long”. On Mars, these vortices are fleeting, typically collapsing within 10 minutes as the warm air driving them cools or disperses.”
Why Dust Devils Matter for Mars Exploration
Beyond their scientific intrigue, dust devils hold practical implications for Mars exploration. The dust they lift into the atmosphere can affect the performance of rovers and landers, coating solar panels and instruments. Understanding their behavior helps mission planners design more resilient spacecraft and predict periods of reduced visibility, which could impact navigation or communication. For future human missions, dust devils pose additional challenges, as fine Martian dust could infiltrate habitats or equipment, requiring robust engineering solutions.
Additionally, dust devils are organic environmental explorers on Mars. By studying their size, frequency, and movement, scientists can infer details about wind speed, air temperature, and surface conditions. These insights contribute to models of Mars’ climate, both past and present, and help reconstruct the planet’s geological history. In Jezero Crater, where Perseverance is searching for signs of ancient microbial life, dust devils offer clues about how wind and dust have reshaped the landscape over billions of years, potentially preserving or erasing traces of past habitability.
Perseverance’s Broader Mission
The dust devil collision is just one chapter in Perseverance’s ambitious mission, launched in July 2020 as part of NASA’s Mars 2020 program and the agency’s Moon to Mars exploration strategy. Equipped with advanced instruments, the rover is designed to pursue astrobiology, seeking evidence of ancient life in Jezero Crater, which once hosted a lake and river delta billions of years ago. Perseverance is also collecting and caching samples of Martian rock and regolith, which could be returned to Earth through the NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return Program for detailed analysis—a historic first that could unlock secrets about Mars’ past.
In addition to its astrobiology goals, Perseverance is studying Mars’ geology and climate, gathering data to pave the way for human exploration. Its observations of dust devils and other atmospheric phenomena contribute to a comprehensive picture of the Martian environment, informing the design of future missions. Operated by JPL, a division of Caltech, Perseverance represents the cutting edge of planetary exploration, blending scientific discovery with technological innovation.
A Fleeting Glimpse of Mars’ Dynamic World
The collision of dust devils captured by Perseverance is a reminder of Mars’ restless and ever-changing nature. Against the bleak background of Jezero Crater, swirling dust vortices battled and blended in an image captured by the rover’s cameras in a single instant. For scientists, the footage is a treasure trove of data, offering insights into the forces that sculpt the Martian landscape. For the rest of us, it’s a vivid portrait of a world that, though distant, feels ever more tangible through the eyes of Perseverance.
As the rover continues its journey, scanning the horizon for the next fleeting whirlwind or ancient clue, it carries forward a legacy of exploration that began with Viking and Pathfinder and will extend into the future with human footsteps on Martian soil. Each dust devil, each rock, each sound recorded by Perseverance brings us closer to understanding the Red Planet—not just as a scientific frontier, but as a place that challenges our imagination and calls us to explore.
for more news visit Bbuzzs