All articles tagged with #martian atmosphere
NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter captured an unprecedented image of a towering formation emerging from the Martian clouds in the Tharsis region, providing new insights into Mars' atmospheric dynamics and seasonal changes, with the spacecraft's THEMIS instrument playing a key role in atmospheric studies.
The Perseverance rover has collected not only rock samples but also traces of the Martian atmosphere in its sample tubes, offering a unique opportunity for scientists to study Mars' air directly. This could provide insights into the planet's dust, water vapor, and atmospheric interactions. However, the Mars Sample Return mission faces significant financial challenges, with costs now estimated at $11 billion.
Scientists are excited about the air in NASA's Perseverance Mars rover's sample tubes, as it could reveal crucial information about Mars' atmosphere, climate history, and potential for past microbial life. The "headspace" gas in these tubes, including noble gases, may provide insights into the planet's formation and evolution, similar to studies conducted on lunar samples from the Apollo missions.
NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter has captured stunning panoramic images of Mars and its moon Phobos, providing a unique perspective of the planet's curved landscape and atmosphere. The images offer fresh insights into the Martian atmosphere and will aid in future explorations. The view, similar to what an astronaut sees from the International Space Station, was achieved by rotating the orbiter almost 90 degrees and adjusting the position of the spacecraft. The mission also captured imagery of Phobos, which could help settle the debate over its origin.
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 are still puzzled by several mysteries surrounding Mars. These include the bulgy southern hemisphere, the disappearance of water on the planet's surface, the presence of methane in the atmosphere, the history of the Martian cryosphere, and the planet's obliquity. These mysteries highlight the need for more data and research to understand the geological and climatic history of Mars, which could provide insights into the evolution of Earth-like climates and have implications for policymaking decisions on Earth.
NASA's Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, is set to attempt its 62nd flight and break a new speed record on October 12th. The goal is to travel 268 meters at a maximum altitude of 18 meters while reaching a speed of 10 meters per second. Although still far from reaching Mach 1 on Mars, this achievement is remarkable considering Ingenuity's status as a first-of-its-kind helicopter using off-the-shelf components in the thin Martian atmosphere.
The Perseverance Rover captured a unique "Blue Sunset" on Mars, showcasing the distinct interaction between sunlight and the Martian atmosphere. Unlike Earth's sunset, where blue light is scattered, Mars' atmosphere scatters lower-frequency red light during the day, creating a red sky. During twilight, the red light disperses, revealing a cool blue hue due to the dusty haze. Twilight on Mars provides an opportunity for studying the planet's atmosphere and detecting dust and ice clouds. The Curiosity rover has also captured remarkable images of the Sun's rays piercing through Martian twilight clouds, providing insights into particle size changes within the clouds.
A massive coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun is expected to make a direct hit on Mars, which lacks a shielding magnetic field and a substantial atmosphere. The CME could strip away more of Mars' atmosphere, potentially contributing to the planet's loss of its once habitable conditions. Martian auroras, although different from Earth's, have been observed and will be closely monitored by orbiting spacecraft during the CME event. Additionally, another flare from the Sun may have produced an Earth-directed CME, raising the possibility of auroras on Earth.
NASA's MAVEN mission has captured two stunning ultraviolet images of Mars, providing scientists with new insights into the planet's atmosphere and surface features. The images, taken at different points along Mars' orbit, reveal details such as atmospheric ozone appearing purple, clouds and hazes appearing white or blue, and the surface appearing tan or green. The first image shows Mars during the southern hemisphere's summer season, while the second image depicts the northern hemisphere during winter. MAVEN's goal is to explore Mars' upper atmosphere and understand the loss of its atmosphere to space, providing valuable information about the planet's history and habitability.
NASA's MAVEN mission has captured striking ultraviolet images of Mars, providing valuable insights into the planet's upper atmosphere and interactions with the Sun. The images, taken at different points in Mars' orbit, reveal ozone accumulation during the northern hemisphere's cold winter nights and the presence of a deep crater called Argyre Basin. MAVEN's data is helping scientists investigate the loss of Mars' atmosphere over time.