Search Publications
Ionosphere of Mars during the consecutive solar minima 23/24 and 24/25 as seen by MARSIS-Mars Express
Witasse, Olivier; Sánchez-Cano, Beatriz; Kofman, Wlodek +4 more
The Mars' ionospheric behavior during two consecutive solar minima (23/24 and 24/25) is investigated with the same dataset. In particular, we use the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) on board Mars Express to investigate the total electron content behavior of the whole atmosphere in relation to the solar irradian…
Permafrost molards as an analogue for ejecta-ice interactions at Hale Crater, Mars
Lucas, Antoine; Conway, Susan; Noblet, Axel +7 more
When the Hale impact crater penetrated the martian cryosphere 1Ga, landforms indicating post-impact volatile mobilisation were generated. We have found landforms in the ejecta blanket of Hale Crater similar to 'permafrost molards' found in periglacial environments on Earth, and probably related to the past or present presence of volatiles at/near …
Global surficial water content stored in hydrated silicates at Mars from OMEGA/MEx
Poulet, François; Cardesín-Moinelo, Alejandro; Martin, Patrick +2 more
Assessing the water content at the surface of Mars is key to understand the history of water and past climate of the planet but it also is very important for future exploration and potential In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). Numerous locations on the surface, known to harbor hydrated minerals, have been detected and their mineralogical assembla…
A race against the clock: Constraining the timing of cometary bombardment relative to Earth's growth
Nesvorný, David; Avice, Guillaume; Raymond, Sean N. +3 more
Comets are considered a potential source of inner solar system volatiles, but the timing of this delivery relative to that of Earth's accretion is still poorly understood. Measurements of xenon isotopes in comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko revealed that comets partly contributed to the Earth's atmosphere. However, there is no conclusive evidence of …
Subglacial catastrophic-flood origin of linear and curvilinear flat-rimmed pit chains on Mars: Evidence from geomorphological mapping and detailed landsystem analysis
Yin, An; Kakaria, Reva
Flat-rimmed pits lacking emanating flow-like features on pit margins are typically clustered as linear or curvilinear chains on Mars. Their formation has been attributed to faulting, volcanism, or roof collapse of subsurface voids. Here we test these end-member models by conducting landform analysis and systematic geomorphological mapping in the c…
Chicxulub-like Gale impact into an ocean/land interface on Mars: An explanation for the formation of Mount Sharp
Dohm, James M.; Williams, Jean-Pierre; Fink, Wolfgang +2 more
A geologic investigation of Gale Crater and surrounding terrain was conducted combining orbital data with reported in situ information collected through the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL Curiosity) rover cameras to better explain the anomalous features in and nearby Gale Crater with the primary focus being the formational history of Aeolis Mons, in…
A new shape model of the bilobate comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Chen, Min; Huang, Xianfeng; Yan, Jianguo +2 more
In this article, we performed the stereo-photogrammetric processing on over 5200 Rosetta/OSIRIS-NAC images to derive a global high-resolution 3D model of the bilobate comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, which is visually richer and more convincing than the existing models (i.e., SPG-SHAP4S, SPC-SHAP5 and SPG-SHAP7). This shape model was used to gener…
The Bolometric Bond Albedo of Enceladus
West, Robert A.; Nixon, Conor A.; Fry, Patrick M. +13 more
The bolometric Bond albedo is a fundamental parameter of planets and moons. Here, combined observations from the Cassini spacecraft and the Hubble Space Telescope are used to determine the bolometric Bond albedo of Enceladus. We provide the full-disk reflectance of Enceladus across all phase angles (0° -180°) from 150 nm to 5131 nm, a spectral ran…
Spatial and temporal distribution of sinuous ridges in southeastern Terra Sabaea and the northern region of Hellas Planitia, Mars☆
Williams, Rebecca M. E.; Anderson, Ryan B.; Gullikson, Amber L.
Sinuous ridges are an important yet understudied component of Mars' hydrologic history. We have produced a map of sinuous ridges, valleys and channels, and tectonic ridges across southeastern Terra Sabaea and into northern Hellas Planitia (10°-45° S, 35°-80° E) using a CTX mosaic. Although we mapped different types of ridges and negative relief fe…
Topographical analysis of a candidate subglacial water region in Ultimi Scopuli, Mars
Mitri, Giuseppe; Genova, Antonio; Sulcanese, Davide +3 more
Radar signals of the MARSIS (Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding) instrument at the base of the South Polar Layered Deposits (SPLD) in the region known as Ultimi Scopuli, on Mars, have been interpreted as reflections from putative subglacial standing bodies of liquid water. The interpretation of the MARSIS radar signals is n…