Non-spherical assumption of particle shape has been used to replace the spherical assumption in the AVHRR aerosol optical thickness (τ) retrievals for dust particles. Retrieved τ with both spherical and non-spherical assumptions have been compared to the surface AERONET observations at two desert dust sites to evaluate and quantify the effect of non-spherical dust particles on the satellite aerosol retrievals. The errors (especially the random error) in the satellite retrieved τ have been reduced as a result of adopting the non-spherical assumption in the NOAA/NESDIS AVHRR aerosol retrieval algorithm. This result suggests the importance of taking into account the effects of non-sphericity in the retrieval of dust particles from AVHRR measurements.