[X] My Assistant

[fallofrain]

While browsing images from the MOC, I came across this photograph. I contacted the Planetary Science Institute and the editor of an astronomy magazine about it. Their belief was that it is probably dust blowing from a crater. We all agreed that it is probably not a dust devil. I have no reason to doubt their conclusion. It is probably correct. But the romantic in me wants it to be something a little more unusual. An ice geyser, perhaps, or venting gas.

I've had at least a cursory look at almost all MOC images. I've never seen anything like this. Dust devils tend to move in nearly vertical columns. This appears to be blowing downwind from a stable point source. There is no evidence I can see of other dust features (dunes or devil tracks) in the frame. The width of this photo is 2.97 km. It's cropped from MOC image R1801150. Other than cropping, it hasn't been enhanced in any way.

I wanted to post this to see if anyone would like to make comments. So how about it? Any ideas?