Tag Archives: MSSS

MARCI weather report, February 12-18, 2018

At the beginning of the week, the aphelion cloud belt dominated the skies over the tropics of Mars. Condensate water-ice clouds were also spotted further north above Tempe, Alba, Acidalia, and Deuteronilus. Looking to the southern highlands, small short-lived dust … Continue reading

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MARCI weather report, February 5-11, 2018

Last week, martian water-ice clouds occurred along the tropics and over the plains north of Tempe. The plains of Acidalia encountered some dusty weather as dust hazes lingered for a couple sols at the beginning of the week. The southern … Continue reading

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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter preps aging hardware, instruments for extended operation

NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has begun extra stargazing to help the space agency accomplish advances in Mars exploration over the next decade. The spacecraft already has worked more than double its planned mission life since launch in 2005. NASA … Continue reading

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MARCI weather report, Jan 29-Feb 4, 2018

Widespread water-ice cloud activity continued above many equatorial regions as well as areas north of Tempe Terra. Near the middle of the week, a couple of small short-lived dust storms were observed over northwestern Acidalia Planitia. Meanwhile in the southern … Continue reading

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MARCI weather report, January 22-28, 2018

The prevalence of water-ice clouds was strong across many regions of Mars last week. The aphelion cloud belt continued to rule the skies along the tropics. Poleward of Alba Patera, remainders of a recurring annular (ring-shaped) cloud were visible in … Continue reading

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MARCI weather report, January 15-21, 2018

Last week on Mars, a number of small transient dust storms were spotted over Solis Planum. Looking slightly northwards, the water-ice clouds of the aphelion cloud belt continued to dominate the afternoon skies. The northern plains were at a continued … Continue reading

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MARCI weather report, January 8-14, 2018

Last week, the red planet experienced weather conditions comparable to that of the preceding week. The plateaus of Solis and Syria both experienced short-lived local-scale dust storms. Along the equatorial latitudes, the aphelion cloud belt persisted each afternoon. Looking northward, … Continue reading

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MARCI weather report, January 1-7, 2018

Small transient dust storms were spotted over Solis and Syria Planum this past week. The aphelion cloud belt, comprised of condensate water-ice clouds, dominated the equatorial latitudes all week. Apart from dust haze over some areas, dust-lifting activity was diminished … Continue reading

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MARCI weather report, December 25-31, 2017

Weather features on the red planet were very similar to the previous week. The aphelion cloud belt, formed of diffuse water-ice clouds, persisted over the tropics. Focusing further southward, local-scale dust storms were observed over Solis Planum and western Noachis. … Continue reading

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MARCI weather report, December 11-17, 2017

Last week, a couple of small transient dust storms were spotted near the edge of the north polar cap, which had already reached its perennial configuration. Looking further south to the tropics, the aphelion cloud belt continued to be the … Continue reading

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