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Science with a Small Two-Band UV-Photometry Mission I: Mission Description and Follow-up Observations of Stellar Transients
Behar, E.; Chang, Hsiang-Kuang; Merc, J. +33 more
This is the first in a collection of three papers introducing the science with an ultra-violet (UV) space telescope on an approximately 130 kg small satellite with a moderately fast re-pointing capability and a real-time alert communication system approved for a Czech national space mission. The mission, called Quick Ultra-Violet Kilonova surveyor…
Searching for Strong Gravitational Lenses
Hezaveh, Yashar; Courbin, Frédéric; Leung, Calvin +9 more
Strong gravitational lenses provide unique laboratories for cosmological and astrophysical investigations, but they must first be discovered - a task that can be met with significant contamination by other astrophysical objects and asterisms. Here we review strong lens searches, covering various sources (quasars, galaxies, supernovae, FRBs, GRBs, …
Magnetic Reconnection at Planetary Bodies and Astrospheres
Stawarz, Julia E.; Phan, Tai D.; Harada, Yuki +11 more
Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental mechanism for the transport of mass and energy in planetary magnetospheres and astrospheres. While the process of reconnection is itself ubiquitous across a multitude of systems, the techniques used for its analysis can vary across scientific disciplines. Here we frame the latest understanding of reconnection…
Global-Scale Processes and Effects of Magnetic Reconnection on the Geospace Environment
Eastwood, J. P.; Lavraud, B.; Nakamura, R. +14 more
Recent multi-point measurements, in particular from the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft, have advanced the understanding of micro-scale aspects of magnetic reconnection. In addition, the MMS mission, as part of the Heliospheric System Observatory, combined with recent advances in global magnetospheric modeling, have furthered the unders…
The Interplay Between Collisionless Magnetic Reconnection and Turbulence
Hasegawa, H.; Khotyaintsev, Yu. V.; Graham, D. B. +13 more
Alongside magnetic reconnection, turbulence is another fundamental nonlinear plasma phenomenon that plays a key role in energy transport and conversion in space and astrophysical plasmas. From a numerical, theoretical, and observational point of view there is a long history of exploring the interplay between these two phenomena in space plasma env…
Mars Express: 20 Years of Mission, Science Operations and Data Archiving
Johnstone, A.; Geiger, B.; Määttänen, A. +27 more
Launched on 2 June 2003 and arriving at Mars on 25 December 2003 after a 7-month interplanetary cruise, Mars Express was the European Space Agency's first mission to arrive at another planet. After more than 20 years in orbit, the spacecraft and science payload remain in good health and the mission has become the second oldest operational planetar…
The Composition of Saturn's Rings
Nicholson, Philip D.; Johnson, Robert E.; Hedman, Matthew M. +13 more
The origin and evolution of Saturn's rings is critical to understanding the Saturnian system as a whole. Here, we discuss the physical and chemical composition of the rings, as a foundation for evolutionary models described in subsequent chapters. We review the physical characteristics of the main rings, and summarize current constraints on their …
Dynamical Phenomena in the Martian Atmosphere Through Mars Express Imaging
Sánchez-Lavega, A.; Tirsch, D.; Spiga, A. +5 more
This review describes the dynamic phenomena in the atmosphere of Mars that are visible in images taken in the visual range through cloud formation and dust lifting. We describe the properties of atmospheric features traced by aerosols covering a large range of spatial and temporal scales, including dynamical interpretations and modelling when avai…
Airglow and Aurora in the Martian Atmosphere: Contributions by the Mars Express and ExoMars TGO Missions
Montmessin, Franck; Fedorova, Anna; Gérard, Jean-Claude +6 more
The study of atmospheric emissions from orbit to probe the middle and upper atmosphere of Mars, which started with the Mariner missions, is living a golden era thanks to the European Space Agency (ESA) Mars Express mission and other subsequent missions built upon its success, including the ESA ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) mission. Here we summa…
The Ionosphere of Mars After 20 Years of Mars Express Contributions
Pätzold, Martin; González-Galindo, Francisco; Holmström, Mats +6 more
The Martian ionosphere originates from the ionization of the planetary neutral atmosphere by solar radiation. This conductive layer is embedded within the thermosphere and exosphere of Mars where it forms a highly variable interaction region with the solar wind. The Martian ionosphere has been continuously observed by the three plasma instruments …