Dust Storm Over Northern Mars

Almost on cue, as Mars nears its closest approach to planet Earth
in recorded history, ominous seasonal dust storms are beginning
to kick up. Observers worry that the activity may presage the
development of a planet wide dust storm, frustrating attempts to
view Mars in the coming months, a situation similar to the Red Planet's
uncooperative behavior in 2001. In this example, recorded in mid-May
by the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft camera, a dust storm the size of
a continent sweeps north and east (toward the upper right) across Mars'
northern Acidalia Planitia. Meanwhile, interplanetary robotic explorers
Mars Express/ Beagle 2, Nozomi, and the twin Mars Exploration Rovers
Opportunity and Spirit, are all bound for Mars and should arrive by
early January 2004.