On Apr. 13, 2021, Martian day (Sol) 52 perseverance captured two dust devils blowing behind the Ingenuity. This is the second time Perseverance captures dust devils on Mars. Multiple dust devils have been captured by the Mars Curiosity Rover since 2012.

A dust devil is a small whirlwind or air vortex over land, visible as a column of dust and debris. Martian dust devils can reach heights of 5 miles (8 kilometers) — much taller than dust devils on Earth.

Martian dust devils are most active in mid-summer. Many of them form each afternoon throughout the spring and summer in northwestern Amazonis Planitia.

Dust devils are usually harmless, but sometimes (on rare occasions) can grow large enough to pose a threat to both people and properties.

Credit: NASA/JPL

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