Category Archives: Reports

THEMIS: Wind streaks on northern plains

THEMIS Image of the Day, April 12, 2019. Today’s false-color VIS image is located in the plains between Chryse and Acidalia Planitias. Dark blue tones in this false color combination are usually created by basaltic sands. There appears to be … Continue reading

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Curiosity update: Taking some time for remote science

Sol 2374, April 11, 2019, update by MSL scientist Rachel Kronyak: This week’s drill activities have been very power-intensive for Curiosity. So we’ll spend today, Sol 2374, catching up on some remote science observations while waiting for data from yesterday’s … Continue reading

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HiRISE: Channels in Tisia Valles

Channels in Tisia Valles. The objective of this observation is to examine a small channel system. Located to the immediate northwest of Huygens Crater, Tisia Valles is named after the ancient term for the modern Tisza River, Ukraine. HiRISE Picture … Continue reading

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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

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Curiosity tastes first sample in ‘clay-bearing unit’

Scientists working with NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover have been excited to explore a region called “the clay-bearing unit” since before the spacecraft launched. Now, the rover has finally tasted its first sample from this part of Mount Sharp. Curiosity drilled … Continue reading

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THEMIS: Noachis Terra in false color

THEMIS Image of the Day, April 11, 2019. This false-color image is located in northern Noachis Terra. Evros Vallis is located just below the large crater at the top of the image. The THEMIS VIS camera contains 5 filters. The … Continue reading

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Curiosity: Aberlady drill hole

Sol 2374, April 11, 2019. The Remote Micro-Imager on Curiosity took a look into the Aberlady drill hole, recording numerous ChemCam laser zap spots. Also visible is a thin light-toned layer that may be calcium sulfate (gypsum). Click the image … Continue reading

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Latest weather at Gale Crater and Elysium Planitia

Daily Elysium charts and data (temperature, wind speed, atmospheric pressure) here.

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Curiosity update: To sample or not to sample? That is the question.

Sol 2373, April 10, 2019, update by MSL scientist Fred Calef: After looking at our exciting new drill hole, “Aberlady,” a few interesting observations were made: the drilled block lifted up a centimeter or two as the drill was retracted, … Continue reading

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MARCI weather report, April 1-7, 2019

There was a slight uptick in dust storm activity across the southern highlands of Mars this past week. Repeated dust storms were spotted from southern Aonia to Cimmeria on several afternoons. Scanning further northward to the tropics, orographic water ice … Continue reading

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