Publications
Filter Total Items: 990
Opportunity Mars Rover mission: Overview and selected results from Purgatory ripple to traverses to Endeavour crater Opportunity Mars Rover mission: Overview and selected results from Purgatory ripple to traverses to Endeavour crater
Opportunity has been traversing the Meridiani plains since 25 January 2004 (sol 1), acquiring numerous observations of the atmosphere, soils, and rocks. This paper provides an overview of key discoveries between sols 511 and 2300, complementing earlier papers covering results from the initial phases of the mission. Key new results include (1) atmospheric argon measurements that...
Authors
R. E. Arvidson, James W. Ashley, J.F. Bell, M. Chojnacki, J. Cohen, T.E. Economou, W. H. Farrand, Robin L. Fergason, I. Fleischer, Paul E. Geissler, Ralf Gellert, M.P. Golombek, J.P. Grotzinger, E.A. Guinness, R.M. Haberle, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J.A. Herman, K.D. Iagnemma, B.L. Jolliff, J. R. Johnson, G. Klingelhofer, A.H. Knoll, A.T. Knudson, R. Li, S. M. McLennan, D. W. Mittlefehldt, R.V. Morris, T. J. Parker, M.S. Rice, C. Schroder, Laurence A. Soderblom, S. W. Squyres, R.J. Sullivan, M.J. Wolff
Columbus crater and other possible groundwater-fed paleolakes of Terra Sirenum, Mars Columbus crater and other possible groundwater-fed paleolakes of Terra Sirenum, Mars
Columbus crater in the Terra Sirenum region of the Martian southern highlands contains light‐toned layered deposits with interbedded sulfate and phyllosilicate minerals, a rare occurrence on Mars. Here we investigate in detail the morphology, thermophysical properties, mineralogy, and stratigraphy of these deposits; explore their regional context; and interpret the crater's aqueous...
Authors
J.J. Wray, R.E. Milliken, Colin M. Dundas, Gregg A. Swayze, J. C. Andrews-Hanna, A.M. Baldridge, M. Chojnacki, J.L. Bishop, B.L. Ehlmann, S.L. Murchie, Roger N. Clark, F.P. Seelos, L.L. Tornabene, S. W. Squyres
The Mairan domes: silicic volcanic constructs on the Moon The Mairan domes: silicic volcanic constructs on the Moon
The Mairan domes are four features located in northern Oceanus Procellarum at ∼312.3E, 41.4N on the Moon. High resolution visible imagery, visible-to-mid-IR spectra, and Lunar Prospector Th abundance data all indicate that these four domes have a composition that is consistent with derivation from a Si-rich, highly evolved magma.
Authors
Timothy D. Glotch, Justin Hagerty, Paul G. Lucey, B. Ray Hawke, Thomas A. Giguere, Jessica A. Arnold, Jean-Pierre Williams, Bradley L. Jolliff, David A. Paige
Organic sedimentary deposits in Titan's dry lakebeds: Probable evaporite Organic sedimentary deposits in Titan's dry lakebeds: Probable evaporite
We report the discovery of organic sedimentary deposits at the bottom of dry lakebeds near Titan’s north pole in observations from the Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS). We show evidence that the deposits are evaporitic, making Titan just the third known planetary body with evaporitic processes after Earth and Mars, and is the first that uses a solvent other than...
Authors
J. W. Barnes, J. Bow, J. Schwartz, R. H. Brown, J.M. Soderblom, A. G. Hayes, G. Vixie, Stéphane Le Mouélic, S. Rodriguez, Christophe Sotin, R. Jaumann, K. Stephan, L.A. Soderblom, Roger N. Clark, B. J. Buratti, K. H. Baines, P. D. Nicholson
A Miocene river in northern Arizona and its implications for the Colorado River and Grand Canyon A Miocene river in northern Arizona and its implications for the Colorado River and Grand Canyon
The southwesterly course of the pre–late Miocene Crooked Ridge River can be traced continuously for 48 km and discontinuously for 91 km in northern Arizona. It is visible today in inverted relief. Pebbles in the river gravel came from at least as far northeast as the San Juan Mountains. The river valley was carved out of easily eroded Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks, whose debris...
Authors
Ivo Lucchitta, Richard F. Holm, Baerbel K. Lucchitta
Spectral heterogeneity on Phobos and Deimos: HiRISE observations and comparisons to Mars Pathfinder results Spectral heterogeneity on Phobos and Deimos: HiRISE observations and comparisons to Mars Pathfinder results
The High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) onboard Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has been used to observe Phobos and Deimos at spatial scales of around 6 and 20 m/px, respectively. HiRISE (McEwen et al.; JGR, 112, CiteID E05S02, DOI: 10.1029/2005JE002605, 2007) has provided, for the first time, high-resolution colour images of the surfaces of the Martian moons. When...
Authors
N. Thomas, R. Stelter, A. Ivanov, N.T. Bridges, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, A. S. McEwen
Mars: the evolutionary history of the northern lowlands based on crater counting and geologic mapping Mars: the evolutionary history of the northern lowlands based on crater counting and geologic mapping
The geologic history of planetary surfaces is most effectively determined by joining geologic mapping and crater counting which provides an iterative, qualitative and quantitative method for defining relative ages and absolute model ages. Based on this approach, we present spatial and temporal details regarding the evolution of the Martian northern plains and surrounding regions. The...
Authors
S.C. Werner, K. L. Tanaka, J.A. Skinner
Evidence for mechanical and chemical alteration of iron-nickel meteorites on Mars: Process insights for Meridiani Planum Evidence for mechanical and chemical alteration of iron-nickel meteorites on Mars: Process insights for Meridiani Planum
The weathering of meteorites found on Mars involves chemical and physical processes that can provide clues to climate conditions at the location of their discovery. Beginning on sol 1961, the Opportunity rover encountered three large iron meteorites within a few hundred meters of each other. In order of discovery, these rocks have been assigned the unofficial names Block Island, Shelter...
Authors
James W. Ashley, M.P. Golombek, P. R. Christensen, S. W. Squyres, T.J. McCoy, C. Schroder, I. Fleischer, J. R. Johnson, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, T. J. Parker
Bounce Rock-A shergottite-like basalt encountered at Meridiani Planum, Mars Bounce Rock-A shergottite-like basalt encountered at Meridiani Planum, Mars
The Opportunity rover of the Mars Exploration Rover mission encountered an isolated rock fragment with textural, mineralogical, and chemical properties similar to basaltic shergottites. This finding was confirmed by all rover instruments, and a comprehensive study of these results is reported here. Spectra from the miniature thermal emission spectrometer and the Panoramic Camera reveal a...
Authors
J. Zipfel, C. Schroder, B.L. Jolliff, Ralf Gellert, K. E. Herkenhoff, R. Rieder, R. Anderson, J.F. Bell, J. Bruckner, J.A. Crisp, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, P.A. de Souza, G. Dreibus, C. D'uston, T. Economou, S.P. Gorevan, B.C. Hahn, G. Klingelhofer, T.J. McCoy, H.Y. McSween, D. W. Ming, R.V. Morris, D.S. Rodionov, S. W. Squyres, H. Wanke, S.P. Wright, M.B. Wyatt, A. S. Yen
Measurements of Martian dust devil winds with HiRISE Measurements of Martian dust devil winds with HiRISE
We report wind measurements within Martian dust devils observed in plan view from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) orbiting Mars. The central color swath of the HiRISE instrument has three separate charge‐coupled devices (CCDs) and color filters that observe the surface in rapid cadence. Active features, such as dust devils, appear in motion when observed by this...
Authors
D.S. Choi, Colin M. Dundas
Extreme volcanism on Io: Latest insights at the end of Galileo era Extreme volcanism on Io: Latest insights at the end of Galileo era
Galileo has now completed 7 years exploring Jupiter. The spacecraft obtained breathtaking views of the four major satellites, and studied Jupiter's clouds and atmospheric composition, rings, small satellites, and magnetic field. It had five successful close flybys and many distant observations of Io. Scientists already knew from Voyager and Earth‐based astronomy that Io is by far the...
Authors
Jeffrey S. Kargel, Robert R. Carlson, Ashley G. Davies, Bruce Fegley, Alan R. Gillespie, Ronald Greeley, Robert G. Howells, Kandis Lea Jessup, Lucas Kamp, Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Rosaly Lopes, Timothy MacIntyre, Franck Marchis, Alfred McEwen, Moses P. Milazzo, Jason Perry, Jani Radebaugh, Laura Schaefer, Nicholas Schmerr, William Smythe, John M. Spencer, David A. Williams, Ju Zhang, Mikhail Zolotov
Hyperspectral analysis of rocky surfaces on the Earth and other planetary systems: Chapter 27 Hyperspectral analysis of rocky surfaces on the Earth and other planetary systems: Chapter 27
This book is focused on studies of vegetation on Earth using hyperspectral remote sensing methods. However, it is appropriate to extend the application of these methods out to other rocky bodies in our Solar System for a variety of reasons. First, minerals, soils, and rocks form the substrate on which vegetation grows on Earth. Compositional analyses of these components with...
Authors
R. Greg Vaughan, Timothy N. Titus, Jeffery R Johnson, Justin Hagerty, Lisa R. Gaddis, Laurence A. Soderblom, Paul E. Geissler