Tag Archives: Mars Global Surveyor

New model for martian crustal magnetism

Posted on June 13, 2019 by rburnham

[Editor’s note: From a paper by Benoit Langlais and four co-authors recently published in the Journal of Geophysical Research.] A New Model of the Crustal Magnetic Field of Mars Using MGS and MAVEN • MGS and MAVEN magnetic field measurements … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

North polar residual ice cap has recent snow-like surface

Posted on May 24, 2019 by rburnham

[Editor’s note: From a paper by Jonathan Bapst and three co-authors recently published in the Journal of Geophysical Research.] Thermophysical Properties of the North Polar Residual Cap using Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer • We identify residual water ice … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off

North residual polar cap holds both old dense ice and fresh snow

Posted on April 19, 2019 by rburnham

[Editor’s note: From a paper by Jonathan Bapst and three co-authors recently published in the Journal of Geophysical Research.] Thermophysical Properties of the North Polar Residual Cap using MGS TES • We identify residual water ice with elevated surface porosity … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off

Phobos & Deimos likely formed from big impact on Mars

Posted on October 23, 2018 by rburnham

[Editor’s note: From a paper by Timothy Glotch and seven co-authors recently published in the Journal of Geophysical Research.] MGS‐TES Spectra Suggest a Basaltic Component in the Regolith of Phobos • Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer spectra of Phobos … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Mars CO2 ice cap throughout the martian year

Posted on August 9, 2018 by rburnham

This animation shows a side-by-side comparison of CO2 ice at the north (left) and south (right) Martian poles over the course of a typical year (two Earth years). This simulation isn’t based on photos; instead, the data used to create … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Mars orbiters reveal seasonal dust storm pattern

Posted on June 9, 2016 by rburnham

After decades of research to discern seasonal patterns in Martian dust storms from images showing the dust, but the clearest pattern appears to be captured by measuring the temperature of the Red Planet’s atmosphere. For six recent Martian years, temperature … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Best view yet inside Mars from new gravity map

Posted on March 21, 2016 by rburnham

A new map of Mars’ gravity made with three NASA spacecraft is the most detailed to date, providing a revealing glimpse into the hidden interior of the Red Planet. “Gravity maps allow us to see inside a planet, just as … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off

Ancient Mars biosphere: deep underground?

Posted on January 22, 2013 by rburnham

Something like half of Earth’s entire biomass lies underground in the form of microorganisms living off geothermal heat and chemicals in the crustal rocks. Could the same hold true for Mars, now or in bygone times? If so, it’s hard … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Devilry in the air

Posted on September 2, 2011 by rburnham

With all the spacecraft orbiting Mars, it’s slightly surprising that there aren’t more observations of dust devils shared by two or more instruments. Writing in the September 2011 issue of Icarus, a team of scientists led by Dennis Reiss (Westfälische … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off