Perseverance captures the sound and image of a dust devil – Mars

Decidedly, the microphone with which the Mars rover Perseverance was equipped is very useful. The NASA robot, which has been surveying the planet Mars since February 2021, had already recorded sound as soon as it arrived. The scientists had analyzed these recordings, and had concluded that there were two speeds of sound on the red planet: one for high-pitched sounds and the other for low frequencies. Scientists had also noted a lower speed of sound on Mars than on Earth. But, last September, the rover recorded an unprecedented sound: that of a whirlwind of dust, as related Point.

Sound, image and atmospheric parameters

The recording dates back to September 27. That day, Perseverance recorded the sound of a dust devil as it passed over the rover. But, in addition to having the sound, the scientists also had access to the image, the camera and the meteorological sensors of the rover being on at that moment. It is therefore at the same time, the image, the sound and the atmospheric parameters of the dust devil that have been immortalized. Scientists couldn’t ask for more to accurately study the weather phenomenon.

The dust devil was, according to the scientists, 118 meters high and 25 meters wide, it was moving at a speed of 19km/h. On the soundtrack side, several specific sounds have been identified. When the whirlpool arrives, a noise of wind, then silence when the rover finds itself in the “eye of the cyclone”, before a new noise of wind. Very distinct dry noises are then heard, it would be, according to the scientists, the noise of the impact of the grains of dust on the rover. This will allow them to better analyze the behavior of dust on Mars. An essential analysis before considering a human space conquest of the red planet.