“atmospheric opacity on Mars is normally “0.5,” & the Rover normally generates 600+ watts, opacity is now measured at “10.8,” and energy production dropped to 22 watts.”

“The storm is one of the most intense ever observed on the Red Planet. As of June 10, it covered more than 15.8 million square miles (41 million square kilometers) — about the area of North America and Russia combined. It has blocked out so much sunlight, it has effectively turned day into night for Opportunity, which is located near the center of the storm, inside Mars’ Perseverance Valley.”
Participants in the teleconference included:
· John Callas, Opportunity project manager, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
· Rich Zurek, Mars Program Office chief scientist, JPL
· Jim Watzin, director of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters, Washington
· Dave Lavery, program executive at NASA Headquarters for the Opportunity and Curiosity rovers

Let’s hope Opportunity can ride this thing out, though.

Its interesting the difference between the two atmospheres and planets.

Cotour: The amount of dust involved is tiny. Even at its worst, the only dust concern would be whether there will be a very thin layer on the solar panels or on the camera lens, affecting future operations. In both cases, the amount of dust is still tiny, and with the solar panels, it has historically been blown away very quickly. With the cameras, they are unworried about the amount of dust.

The rover does not “fold itself up.” Doesn’t need to. This is NOT the kind of dust storm you see on Earth, or in movies. It might block the light from the sun, but if you were standing there you would hardly be bothered by the dust. The rover simply turns off instruments to save power and waits out the storm.

If the storm is big enough and lasts long enough I would expect that there is a danger of it being entirely buried and entombed for eternity or until the winds uncover it?