But now the dust has become so thick that the Mars Exploration Rover team is reporting that this could mean the end for the Martian Methuselahs. The nearly opaque dust haze has dropped solar energy levels to record lows. Opportunity has it worse than Spirit — 99% of the direct sunlight to Opportunity's solar panels is blocked. The rovers always require a little power, either from the solar panels or from the rovers' rechargable batteries, for internal heaters. Without the heaters, some parts would get too cold and would permanently break.

We'll keep you posted on how things are going.

Posted by David Tytell, July 20, 2007

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/home/8626777.html