NASA is tracking a dust storm onMars, but says it has not affected the operations of its two rovers on thesurface.
The space agency said Wednesday the storm raging in theMartian southern hemisphere was spotted earlier this month by the MarsReconnaissance Orbiter circling overhead.
The storm came within 840 miles (1,350 kilometers) ofOpportunity's location. On the red planet's opposite side, a weather stationaboard NASA's newest rover, Curiosity, detected changes in air pressure andovernight temperature related to the storm.
Scientists want to learn more about Martian dust storms,including why some morph into storms that blanket the planet.
If this latest storm turns into a global one, thesolar-powered Opportunity would see an energy decline. Curiosity, powered byplutonium, won't be as directly affected.