All articles tagged with #exomars trace gas orbiter
The European Space Agency's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter captured rare images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it passed near Mars, marking only the third interstellar object observed from within our solar system, providing valuable insights into objects originating beyond our galaxy.
ESA's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter captured detailed composite images of Mars' atmosphere, revealing delicate, layered dust and gas structures that vary with altitude and influence the planet's climate and weather patterns, enhancing our understanding of the Red Planet's atmospheric composition and behavior.
The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has discovered a green nightglow in the Martian atmosphere, providing valuable insights into atmospheric processes and potential illumination for future missions. This visible nightglow, distinct from auroras, occurs when oxygen atoms combine to form oxygen molecules high above the planet's surface. The glow could be bright enough for humans and rovers to navigate in the dark nights of Mars' polar regions. Understanding the properties of Mars' atmosphere is crucial for future missions, as it affects the drag experienced by orbiting satellites and the landing of probes on the Martian surface.
Scientists using the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) have observed Mars' atmosphere glowing green for the first time in visible light, a phenomenon known as airglow. This unexpected discovery could have implications for future missions to Mars, as the intensity of the nightglow in the polar regions could be mapped and monitored by relatively inexpensive instruments in Martian orbit. Studying Mars' nightglow will provide insight into the composition and dynamics of the planet's upper atmosphere, which is otherwise inaccessible to direct measurement. Additionally, understanding Mars' atmosphere can aid in the design of spacecraft and equipment for future missions.
The European Space Agency's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has observed Mars' atmosphere glowing green for the first time in visible light. This phenomenon, known as airglow, occurs when two oxygen atoms combine to form an oxygen molecule. Scientists have suspected Mars to have airglow for 40 years, and the first observation occurred a decade ago. Studying Mars' nightglow will provide insight into the composition and dynamics of its upper atmosphere, aiding in the design of future spacecraft and potential manned missions to the Red Planet.
The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has discovered that the atmosphere of Mars is formed from carbon monoxide with less heavy carbon than expected, providing an explanation for certain compounds of organic matter found in the soil of the red planet. The finding is the result of exhaustive analysis of data collected by the TGO after eight orbits between March and April 2022. The study's lead author, Shohei Aoki, said measuring the carbon isotopic ratio in monoxide is a powerful way to understand where the planet's organic matter comes from and reveal the habitability history of Mars.