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Images taken in Japan and the USA on Nov 24 reveal a small dust cloud located on northern Ganges, or Nilokeras. It is too late in the Martian year for this to become very large, but nonetheless it should be worth watching. Observers in the UK will not be able to see it, but some of our overseas members might succeed. Please let me have your results.
Richard McKim, Director
As of this morning, August 18, images by C.Foster show very bright dust activity along eastern and central Valles Marineris, bordering southern Chryse-Xanthe. We are at Ls 314, which is right at the upper limit for an encircling storm to begin, but a large regional event cannot be ruled out. We have had relatively little telescopic dust activity so far this Martian southern summer, and I encourage those that can view the area of interest to do so. Over the last few decades this initiation site has become more important than Hellas in generating dust storms, as I have discussed in the appendix to the 2020 Mars report (downloadable from the Section website).
Good luck!Today, August 19, the storm has expanded to the north over Chryse-Xanthe, and to the south over Mare Erythraeum towards Argyre. It is quite likely that secondary dust cores will arise, perhaps over some or all of Meridiani Sinus, Margaritifer Sinus and Argyre, as they have in similar events in the past.
Clyde Fosters Mars images at: https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2024/index_CFs.html
Click on the longitude to display that days images.Today’s update, August 20. The storm has reached Regional status and is still growing. Images this morning by Clyde Foster show that dust has reached E. Sinus Sabaeus on the eastern side, while Peter Tickner’s later, daylight, image timed at 08.45 UT shows dust surrounding a still dark Aurorae Sinus to the west, and expanding south west with apparently one discrete dust cloud southeast of Solis Lacus. Dust continues to occupy Chryse and Xanthe. Mare Acidalium to the north is largely unaffected. Other excellent images of the event have been taken by Damian Peach and Eric Sussenbach. Given the expansion to the east, the area remains visible to UK observers, though we must now rely upon others to watch the western side.
On August 21 and 22 the storm continued to expand. There is now activity in Hellas as well, so the event continues to be visible from the longitude of the UK. It is unlikely that it will expand much further east than Hellas. On the other side, there is a fresh (and very bright) dust core close to Solis Lacus as of August 22, imaged by Frank Melillo and Gary Walker from the USA. Thanks to all those who have sent data directly to me.
As of today this event seems to be ending. The eastern secondary core at Meridiani Sinus and more prominent western ones at or near Solis L. did not last long; for a time there was a bit of atmospheric dust raised in Hellas. The area around Argyre is still bright, but its lack of daily movement suggests it is now dust fallout from the storm. This area is larger than Argyre, as was the case with the similar event in 2022. Compared with the 2020 and 2022 regional storms at similar seasonal dates, the present one was less energetic and less extensive.
I will write an illustrated account of this regional storm for the Mars Section 2024 blog later, but will not submit further posts here, unless something striking or unexpected happens. Thanks to all those who sent observations.
Once again there is some dust storm activity worth observing. It is fortunate that we have had daily coverage for a long while now (and on every day of this month) with observers being situated around the world. Images by Clyde Foster and Nick Haigh in the last couple of days showed local dust cores in southern Chryse-Xanthe and near Lunae Lacus. As of today, September 19, dust runs along a good length of Valles Marineris, across parts of Chryse-Xanthe and across Mare Acidalium. The area is well placed for UK observers able to observe in the pre-dawn skies. The latest Mars Section blog post describes the recent large regional storm, which originated in the same area as the current event. Images and drawings will be welcome.
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