Search Publications
Aeolian slipface dynamics and grainflow morphologies on Earth and Mars
Bourke, Mary C.; Cornwall, Carin; Jackson, Derek W. T. +1 more
In 2015, an active dune field on Mars was visited up close by the Curiosity rover in Gale Crater providing the first high resolution ground images of fine scale windblown features not previously resolved from orbital-based imagery. For the first time, these images allow for direct comparison with terrestrial aeolian dynamics and provide critical g…
Evolution of H2O production in comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) as inferred from forbidden oxygen and OH emission
Harris, Walter M.; Cochran, Anita L.; Weaver, Harold +5 more
We present H2O production rates for comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) derived from observations of [O I] and OH emission during its inbound leg, covering a heliocentric distance range of 1.8-0.44 AU. Our production rates are in agreement with previous measurements using a variety of instruments and techniques and with data from the various observa…
Compositional studies of Mare Moscoviense: New perspectives from Chandrayaan-1 VIS-NIR data
Bhatt, Megha; Mall, Urs; Bhardwaj, Anil +5 more
Moscoviense is one of the prominent mare-filled basin on the lunar far side holding key insights about volcanic activity on the far side. Here, we present spectral and elemental maps of mare Moscoviense, using the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) and Infrared Spectrometer-2 (SIR-2) data-sets. The different mare units are mapped based on thei…
The pristine shape of Olympus Mons on Mars and the subaqueous origin of its aureole deposits
De Blasio, Fabio Vittorio
The tallest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons on Mars, is bordered by at least ten enormous sub-circular hummocky deposits forming a welded halo, termed the aureole. The aureole units (or simply aureoles), which are the deposits of landslides from Olympus Mons, have dramatically transformed the pristine size and shape of the volcanic edifi…
Properties of a Martian local dust storm in Atlantis Chaos from OMEGA/MEX data
Bellucci, G.; Oliva, F.; D'Aversa, E. +5 more
In this study we present the analysis of the dust properties of a local storm imaged in the Atlantis Chaos region on Mars by the OMEGA imaging spectrometer on March 2nd, 2005. We use the radiative transfer model MITRA to study the dust properties at solar wavelengths between 0.5 µm and 2.5 µm and infer the connection between the local …
Modification history of the Harmakhis Vallis outflow channel, Mars, based on CTX-scale photogeologic mapping and crater count dating
Kostama, V. -P.; Kukkonen, S.
Harmakhis Vallis is one of the four major outflow channel systems (Dao, Niger, Harmakhis, and Reull Valles) that cut the eastern rim region of the Hellas basin, the largest well-preserved impact structure on Mars. The structure of Harmakhis Vallis and the volume of its head depression, as well as earlier dating studies of the region, suggest that …
On the origin of internal layers in comet nuclei
Li, Jian-Yang; Belton, Michael J. S.; Asphaug, Erik +1 more
We present an analysis of the layered structure on 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko' s Hathor cliff and propose a mechanism (self-sustaining, dual-mode propagation of amorphous to crystalline ice phase-change fronts into the nucleus interior) for its origin. If this is a viable mechanism, the strata must be geologically young (∼106 y). The Hat…
Scale heights and detached haze layers in the mesosphere of Venus from SPICAV IR data
Montmessin, F.; Fedorova, A.; Korablev, O. +3 more
SPICAV IR, one channel of SPICAV/SOIR instrument suite onboard Venus Express, performed solar occultation measurements of the atmosphere at terminators in 0.65-1.7 µm spectral range. We analyze the properties of the upper part of the Venus aerosol layer (upper haze, 70 - 95 km altitude) from 798 observations performed from May 2006 through N…
A search for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons over the Martian South Polar Residual Cap
Muller, J. -P.; Sidiropoulos, P.; Campbell, J. D.
We present our research on compositional mapping of the Martian South Polar Residual Cap (SPRC), especially the detection of organic signatures within the dust content of the ice, based on hyperspectral data analysis. The SPRC is the main region of interest for this investigation, because of the unique CO2 ice sublimation features that …
Cassini UVIS solar occultations by Saturn's F ring and the detection of collision-produced micron-sized dust
Colwell, Joshua E.; Murray, Carl D.; Esposito, Larry W. +2 more
We present an analysis of eleven solar occultations by Saturn's F ring observed by the Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) on the Cassini spacecraft. In four of the solar occultations we detect an unambiguous signal from diffracted sunlight that adds to the direct solar signal just before or after the occultations occur. The strongest detectio…