Mars Rover Catches , First Ever Recording , of Martian Dust Devil .
'The Independent' reports that NASA's Mars rover
has recorded the sound of a dust devil
on the surface of the red planet.
The rover's microphone happened
to be recording when a spinning tower
of red dust passed directly overhead. .
The recording is about ten seconds long and captured
the roar of winds up to 25 miles per hour and a shower
of dust particles against the Perseverance rover.
According to researchers, Mars' thinner
atmosphere mutes the sounds that are
created and allow for less forceful winds. .
Naomi Murdoch, lead author of the study appearing in
Nature Communications, said that in addition to the audio
recording, the rover also captured images and other data.
'The Independent' reports that
dust devils are a common
occurrence on the red planet.
Murdoch says that the rover's SuperCam
microphone is only on for a few minutes every
day, making the recording a lucky break.
According to Murdoch, the recordings allow scientists
a never-before-seen glimpse at Martian wind,
atmospheric turbulence and dust movement on Mars.
The Perseverence rover is currently
scouring the Jezero Crater for rocks that
could harbor signs of ancient microbial life.
So far, the rover has collected 18 samples
that NASA plans to return to Earth
in about ten years time.