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Search Results for: methane
Methane in a flash
Martian methane is a hot topic because of its potential origin in biological, as well as geological processes. Observations (Earth-based and from Mars orbit) have found only a small quantity of the greenhouse gas in the atmosphere of Mars — … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged atmosphere, carbon dioxide, dust devils, electrical discharges, HiRISE, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, methane, sand storms, water
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UV light makes methane from meteorites
Methane gas, which can arise from both biological and geological sources, was detected in the Martian atmosphere by observations from Earth-based telescopes in 2003 and from the Mars Express orbiter (2004). As methane breaks down relatively quickly under Martian conditions, … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged atmosphere, Mars Express, meteorites, methane, Murchison, ultraviolet light, UV light
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About that methane….
Methane is a greenhouse gas that on Earth most often has a biological origin, although it can also come from volcanic activity. Because of the biological implications – and because any Martian methane will be destroyed by oxygen in the … Continue reading
Curiosity update: So much to do before the holiday
Sols 2441-42, June 19, 2019, update by MSL engineer Ashley Stroupe: Curiosity is still parked on Teal Ridge and is in the midst of an extended contact science campaign. This ridge location, shown in the attached image over Curiosity’s shoulder, … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged Aeolis Mons, Calgary Bay, CBU, clay-bearing unit, Curiosity, Gale Crater, Glen Torridon, Irvine, Mars Science Laboratory, Mount Sharp, MSL, Murray Formation, NASA, Sandyhills, Teal Ridge, Urr
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ESA prepares for ExoMars rover operations
[From Emily Lakdawalla’s blog at the Planetary Society] Preparations for the ExoMars rover mission are in their final stages. ESA made two announcements today: ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter is shifting orbit, and they officially opened a new Rover Operations Control … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged ESA, European Space Agency, ExoMars, ExoMars 2020, ExoMars 2020 rover, Kazachok, Oxia Planum, Rosalind Franklin, Roscosmos
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Trace Gas Orbiter: First science results
New evidence of the impact of the recent planet-encompassing dust storm on water in the atmosphere, and a surprising lack of methane, are among the scientific highlights of the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter’s first year in orbit. Two papers [here … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged atmosphere, ESA, European Space Agency, ExoMars, global dust storms, methane, Roscosmos, TGO, Trace Gas Orbiter, water vapor
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Sedimentary volcanism in southern Chryse Planitia: varieties of mud volcanos
[Editor’s note: From a paper by Petr Broz and four co-authors recently published in the Journal of Geophysical Research.] Subsurface Sediment Mobilization in the Southern Chryse Planitia on Mars • Southern Chryse Planitia contains a large field of Amazonian‐aged extrusive … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged Chryse Planitia, mud, mud flows, mud volcanos, outflow sediments, sediments
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Curiosity update: It’s a SAMple party!
Sol 2075, June 7, 2018, update by MSL scientist Rachel Kronyak: Today, Sol 2075, was a fairly straightforward day of planning, as most of the plan will be devoted to carrying out a methane experiment with our SAM instrument to … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged Aeolis Mons, Curiosity, Duluth, Gale Crater, Little Marais, Mars Science Laboratory, Mount Sharp, MSL, Murray Formation, NASA, Vera Rubin Ridge
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ExoMars poised to start science mission
The ExoMars orbiter will soon begin its search for gases that may be linked to active geological or biological activity on the Red Planet. The Trace Gas Orbiter has reached its final orbit after a year of ‘aerobraking’ that ended … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged clathrates, ESA, European Space Agency, ExoMars, ExoMars 2016, ground ice, methane, Roscosmos, TGO, Trace Gas Orbiter
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ExoMars: Surfing complete
Slowed by skimming through the very top of the upper atmosphere, ESA’s ExoMars has lowered itself into a planet-hugging orbit and is about ready to begin sniffing the Red Planet for methane. The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter arrived at Mars … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged ESA, European Space Agency, ExoMars, ExoMars 2016, Roscosmos, TGO, Trace Gas Orbiter
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