Category Archives: Reports

HiRISE: Dunes in low southern latitudes

Posted on April 10, 2019 by rburnham

Dunes in low southern latitudes. The objective of this observation is to examine a small field of dunes. HiRISE Picture of the Day archive. [More at links]

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Geology and astrobiology of McLaughlin Crater

Posted on April 10, 2019 by rburnham

[Editor’s note: From a paper by Joseph Michalski and seven co-authors recently published in the Journal of Geophysical Research.] The Geology and Astrobiology of McLaughlin Crater, Mars: An Ancient Lacustrine Basin Containing Turbidites, Mudstones, and Serpentinites • McLaughlin crater contained … Continue reading →

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THEMIS: Sand dunes and sheets in Arabia Terra

Posted on April 10, 2019 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, April 10, 2019. This false-color VIS image is located in an unnamed crater in Arabia Terra. Dark blue tones in false color indicate basaltic sands. These sands have created the dunes seen in this image, … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Drill success at Aberlady!

Posted on April 10, 2019 by rburnham

Sol 2372, April 9, 2019, update by MSL scientist Rachel Kronyak: Our drill attempt at target “Aberlady” this weekend was a success! In today’s plan we are continuing our investigation of Aberlady and the surrounding areas and preparing to deliver … Continue reading →

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Trace Gas Orbiter: Dust devil detail

Posted on April 9, 2019 by rburnham

Mars may have a reputation for being a desolate world, but it is certainly not dead: its albeit thin atmosphere is still capable of whipping up a storm and, as this image reveals, send hundreds – maybe even thousands – … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Rocky layers on the floor of Fournier Crater

Posted on April 9, 2019 by rburnham

Rocky layers on the floor of Fournier Crater. A nice, classic bowl-shaped crater with bright bedrock exposures on one of its walls. This is located within Fournier Crater, which is 118 kilometers in diameter. HiRISE Picture of the Day archive. … Continue reading →

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THEMIS: McLaughlin Crater in false color

Posted on April 9, 2019 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, April 9, 2019. The large crater at the bottom of today’s image is called McLaughlin Crater. It is located west of Mawrth Vallis, on the margin between Arabia Terra and Chryse Planitia. The THEMIS VIS … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: This is why we came to Gale

Posted on April 8, 2019 by rburnham

Sols 2369-71, April 5, 2019, update by MSL scientist Scott Guzewich: We are go for full drill! Today’s plan will see Curiosity execute the final preparatory steps and then drill at our “Aberlady” bedrock target (seen here underneath the rover’s … Continue reading →

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MAVEN completes orbit change for Mars 2020

Posted on April 8, 2019 by rburnham

MAVEN has achieved a tighter orbit around Mars to act as a telecommunications relay. The two-month campaign began February 11 and ended April 5. MAVEN’s navigation team slowed the spacecraft down gradually by aerobraking, a process taking advantage of the … Continue reading →

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Could detoxing Mars soil lead to new medicines?

Posted on April 8, 2019 by rburnham

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is one of humankind’s major long-term health challenges. Now research into helping humans live on Mars could help address this looming problem. Dennis Claessen, associate professor at the Institute of Biology in Leiden University, the Netherlands … Continue reading →

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