Mars Suffers From Some Seriously Nasty Sandstorms

If the planet's arid environment wasn't a sufficient deterrent, Mars' power also presents a risk.

These massive storms are brought on by Mars' eccentric orbit around the Sun. As a result, there may be temperature differences between the hemispheres, which might significantly increase atmospheric circulation and transport dust throughout the world. These powerful dust storms can last up to six months and blanket the entire planet.

One of the most recent ones was seen on camera in February 2022. It practically spanned the entire Southern Hemisphere of Mars and was twice the size of the United States. NASA's Insight lander also had to enter "safe mode" during the storm to conserve battery life because dust blocked sunlight from reaching the solar panels. Until the weather was better, NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter was also forced to cancel flights.