MARCI weather report: June 23-29, 2014

Posted on July 3, 2014 by rburnham

releaseimg_140623_140629This past week, water ice clouds reaching altitudes of up to 30 kilometers, continued to be a prominent afternoon feature at tropical latitudes in both hemispheres. Also of note was the rapid northward expansion of the seasonal polar cap edge into that southern mid-latitude, which was accompanied by a significant increase in weather frontal storm systems. Dust storms…. [More at link, including video]

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Curiosity update: ‘Maneuvering’

Posted on July 3, 2014 by rburnham

Sol 678, July 3, 2014, update on Curiosity from U.S. Geological Survey scientist Ken Herkenhoff: “The Sol 677 drive was stopped after almost 20 meters (out of 57 m planned) by the autonomous navigation software, when it detected…” [More at link]

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CRISM: Phyllosilicate minerals near Mawrth Vallis

Posted on July 3, 2014 by rburnham

CRISM_FeaturedImages_Compressed_FRT3BFBThis image, which covers a site located slightly west of the Mawrth Vallis outflow channel, shows aluminum-containing minerals called phyllosilicates in a cyan color and iron-magnesium-containing phyllosilicates in a red/magenta color. Phyllosilicates are clay and clay-like minerals formed by chemical reactions with liquid water. Their microscopic crystal form in very thin stacked layers and are also called sheet silicates. In the perspective…. [More at link]

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HiRISE: Layers in southern mid-latitude crater

Posted on July 3, 2014 by rburnham

tumblr_n7zuhzUzxi1rlz4gso1_1280Layers in light-toned material within a southern mid-latitude crater. Beautiful Mars series.

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Curiosity update: ‘World Beater’

Posted on July 3, 2014 by rburnham

Sol 677, July 1, 2014, update on Curiosity from U.S. Geological Survey scientist Ken Herkenhoff: “The Sol 676 drive halted after about 16 meters of progress (out of ~39 m planned) because the rover’s yaw diverged too much from the…” [More at link]

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THEMIS: Cyane Fossae

Posted on July 3, 2014 by rburnham

Fractures in Cyane Fossae (THEMIS_IOTD_20140703)THEMIS Image of the Day, July 3, 2014. The linear depressions in this VIS image are called graben. Graben are bounded on both sides by faults, and the central material has shifted downward between the faults. Cyane Fossae are near Alba Mons.

More THEMIS Images of the Day by geological topic.

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Curiosity: Sol 677, July 2, 2014

Posted on July 2, 2014 by rburnham

FRB_457590618EDR_F0380338FHAZ00304M_Facing the mountain, all the way to the summit (top left).

NASA description: This image was taken by Front Hazcam: Right B (FHAZ_RIGHT_B) onboard NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 677 (2014-07-02 16:41:52 UTC).

Sol 677 raw images (from all cameras), and Curiosity’s latest location map.

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2016 Trace Gas Orbiter gets NASA Electra radio

Posted on July 2, 2014 by rburnham

PIA18397_ipThe first of two NASA Electra radios that will fly aboard the European Space Agency’s next mission to Mars has been delivered for installation onto the ESA ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO). The TGO is being assembled at Thales Alenia Space, in Cannes, France, for a 2016 launch opportunity. It will study the Martian atmosphere for the presence of methane and other gases that may be present in small concentrations. It will also deploy the ESA Schiaparelli Mars landing demonstration craft and provide communications support…. [More at link]

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Curiosity: Sol 676, July 1, 2014

Posted on July 2, 2014 by rburnham

NLB_457507664EDR_F0380202NCAM00280M_Heading west after a 90° turn following a short drive into a sand ripple, where the wheels started to slip.

NASA description: This image was taken by Navcam: Left B (NAV_LEFT_B) onboard NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 676 (2014-07-01 17:39:18 UTC).

Sol 676 raw images (from all cameras), and Curiosity’s latest location map.

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Opportunity: Sol 3710, July 1, 2014

Posted on July 2, 2014 by rburnham

3710-southpanHigh in the thin cold air atop Murray Ridge, Opportunity’s Navcam looks south toward the significantly higher summit of Cape Tribulation in a two-frame composite image.

Opportunity raw images, its latest mission status, and a location map. (A shortcut to Sol 3710 Navcam images is here.)

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