A gigantic dust devil races across the surface of Mars in a stunning new photo snapped by a NASA spacecraft.
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)
captured the 12 mile-high (20 kilometer) twister as it whirled its way
through the Amazonis Planitia region of northern Mars on March 14.
Despite its towering height, the dust devil is just 210 feet (64 meters)
wide, researchers said.
The plume's shadow is also clearly visible in the new image, as are
some topographic features on the Red Planet's complex surface.
Dust devils occur on both Earth and Mars. They are spinning columns of air, made visible by the dirt they suck off the ground. Unlike tornados, dust devils
usually form on clear days when the ground soaks up heat from the sun.
If conditions are right, heated air near the surface may begin to rotate
as it rises through small pockets of cooler air just above it. Full Read
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