Latest news with #MarsExpress
South Wales Argus
7 days ago
- Science
- South Wales Argus
What we can see in the sky this coming week
Noctilucent clouds, (NLCs), make for an interesting spectacle after sunset, observable with the naked eye and quite eerie in appearance. Around two hours after the Sun has set and looking above the northwest horizon, watch for wispy threads of cloud with a distinct blue and silver tinge to them. Taken from the Latin for 'night-shining', NLCs are formed by sunlight reflecting off high-altitude ice crystals that are positioned right on the edge of space. The time period after sunset is crucial if we are to catch NLCs, as around 90 minutes to two hours after the Sun has dipped below the horizon is when the necessary angle occurs for sunlight to catch the crystals and illuminate that part of the sky with this enchanting effect. The beautiful and captivating sight sees the highest clouds in our atmosphere, about 50 miles above the Earth's surface, seem to glow and shimmer with this mesmerizing blue or silvery guise. In the summertime the mesosphere, (the third layer of the Earth's atmosphere where meteorites burn up), becomes cold enough to allow ice to form on suspended dust particles that are floating around in the clouds. These particles may originate from meteorites falling from space, but equally so from other sources, possible volcanic, with the recent Mount Etna eruption billowing tons of debris into the atmosphere. In fact, the first NLCs observations were recorded in 1885, two years after the eruption of Krakatoa, which may or may not have something to do with their appearance. Eruptions aside, rockets that have blasted off from Earth leave particle emissions from their exhaust systems, all contributing to the array of debris circulating in our atmosphere. NLC's have been given a different name when seen from space looking back on Earth; polar mesospheric clouds, or (PMCs). However, the Earth is not the only place NLC's have been witnessed. Launched in June 2003, Mars Express was not only the first European mission to Mars, but the first planetary mission operated entirely by Europe. There were reports of NLC's made three years into the Mars Express mission in 2006, with NASA's Curiosity Mars rover confirming the presence of NLC's in 2019. Readers may well recall all the media hype over Asteroid 2024 YR4, which earlier this year was once considered the highest impact risk to Earth ever recorded. Earlier this week, NASA announced that previously collected data on the asteroid that has been reanalysed now reveals that the 174 to 220 feet-long chunk of rock is more likely to hit the Moon in 2032. During the week ahead, watch for Mars in the evening sky as it moves its way slowly night by night, left to right, above the bright star Regulus in the constellation of Leo, the Lion, situated above the western horizon. The International Space Station continues its early summer break and cannot be seen across our region at present. Send your astrophotography pictures to: thenightsky@
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
European Mars orbiter spies crumbling crater 'soaked in layers of Martian history' (photo)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A European Mars probe captured a stunning view of a Martian crater that's rich in many of the features that help scientists reconstruct the planet's dynamic history over billions of years. The image, taken in October 2024 using the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on the European Space Agency's (ESA) Mars Express orbiter, shows a crumbling crater called Deuteronilus Cavus. It is "soaked in layers of Martian history," having been exposed to volcanic lava flows, erosion from liquid water, repeated freeze-thaw cycles that expanded its edges, and layers of wind-blown volcanic dust settling over time, according to a statement from the space agency. Located in a transitional zone between the planet's rugged southern highlands and smoother northern lowlands, Deuteronilus Cavus is believed to originally have formed following an impact roughly 4.1 to 3.7 billion years ago, when Mars and other planets were being bombarded by huge numbers of asteroids and comets. Over time, the nearly circular 75-mile-wide (120 kilometers) depression has been eroded by water and ice, enlarging it to nearly twice its initial size. ESA shared a fun "recipe" outlining the series of events that shaped the crater, offering valuable insights into the planet's climatic and geological evolution. For example, the presence of clay minerals indicates past interactions between volcanic materials and water, hinting at the possibility of ancient habitable environments, according to the statement. This is further supported by channels cut through the crater's rim, likely formed by surface water flow or the collapse of weakened ground above draining subsurface water. Meanwhile, grooves in the crater rim suggest that ice once formed when Mars' axis tilted more sharply away from the sun than it does now. Related Stories: — Mars: Everything you need to know about the Red Planet — Facts about ESA's Mars Express orbiter — What happened to all the water on Mars? Here's why the debate continues "The linear grooves indicate where boulders frozen into the base of a glacier were dragged along, gouging out the troughs visible today," ESA officials said in the statement. "Around the base of the crater's inner walls, we can see the smooth, tongue-shaped ends of rock-covered glaciers. These 'debris aprons' formed when ice mixed together with rocky debris along the crater walls during a period of glaciation, and slowly crept downslope." The crater's interior also exhibits a mix of rock knobs, mesas, channels and plains, believed to be remnants of a collapsed central peak. Dark volcanic ash covers much of the crater floor, while surrounding wrinkle ridges mark ancient lava flows. "This feature-rich crater has all the ingredients for exploring Mars' varied geological processes, giving us a tantalizing taste of its complex history," ESA officials said in the statement.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Mars may hold a massive water reservoir, enough to flood the planet up to nine feet
Mars may be hiding a vast stash of water beneath the Medusae Fossae Formation (MFF) near its ice-rich deposit could be the largest known water reservoir in this part of Mars, with an estimated volume comparable to Earth's Red Sea. If melted, it has the potential to flood the entire planet in nine feet of water, scientists data from the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) suggests the underground water reservoir extends up to 2.2 miles (3.7 km) deep—far more than previously thought. 'We've explored the MFF again using newer data from Mars Express's MARSIS radar and found the deposits to be even thicker than we thought,' said Thomas Watters, lead author of the study and a scientist at the Smithsonian Institution. 'Excitingly, the radar signals match what we'd expect from layered ice, similar to Mars' known polar ice caps.' The MFF has long intrigued scientists due to its size and unusual composition. Stretching for hundreds of miles and rising over a mile high in places, it marks the transition between Mars' northern lowlands and southern highlands. The formation has been a focal point of scientific debate, with theories ranging from it being a massive accumulation of windblown dust to layers of volcanic ash or sediment. Early observations suggested the MFF contained ice, as radar scans revealed a structure both transparent to signals and unusually low in density. But alternative explanations persisted—until now. Researchers believe that the MFF plays a crucial role in shaping the Martian environment. Its dust-rich deposits, which have been sculpted by wind into striking ridges, have been influencing the planet's atmosphere for millions of years. Scientists suspect that underneath this layer lies a vast store of ice. 'This latest analysis challenges our understanding of the Medusae Fossae Formation and raises as many questions as answers,' said Colin Wilson, ESA project scientist for Mars Express and the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. 'How long ago did these ice deposits form, and what was Mars like at that time? If confirmed to be water ice, these massive deposits would change our understanding of Mars' climate history. Any reservoir of ancient water would be a fascinating target for human or robotic exploration.' Mars' poles contain vast ice reserves, but their harsh terrain and energy challenges make them unsuitable for human landings. As scientists prefer landing crewed missions near the equator, the discovery of equatorial ice could offer a strategic advantage to scientists and engineers. Water on Mars could be used for drinking, oxygen generation, and even fuel production, reducing reliance on Earth-based supplies. 'The MFF deposits, buried under extensive dust layers, remain out of reach for the time being,' said Colin Wilson, ESA project scientist for Mars Express and the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. 'Yet, each discovery of Martian ice enriches our understanding of the planet's hydrological history and current water distribution.' Beyond its role in exploration, the discovery offers new insights into Mars' past climate. The presence of deep equatorial ice suggests a drastically different environment in the planet's history Scientists believe the MFF's ice, protected by layers of dust or ash, could reveal clues about Mars' ancient, water-rich past. The full study was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Unprecedented images of mysterious Mars moon captured by space probe
A space probe flying past Mars captured images of the red planet's small, mysterious moon. The space probe, named Hera, was launched on Oct. 7, 2024, and is on a mission to gather close-up data about the Dimorphos asteroid, the European Space Agency said in a news release. The asteroid was the first to have its orbit altered by human action, when it was impacted by NASA's DART spacecraft in 2022. The goal of Hera is to learn more about asteroid deflection so the technique can be refined and used again. While on a flyby of Mars, Hera was able to use three of its imaging instruments to capture images of Deimos, the smaller of Mars' two moons, the ESA said. Deimos is about 15,000 miles from Mars. Scientists have previously speculated that it may actually be a piece of asteroid, not a moon. Hera got as close as 1,000 kilometers, or about 620 miles, to Deimos. It used its various instruments to capture the images, characterize the mineral makeup on the moon and chart surface temperatures. These features combined will help scientists learn more about the lunar body, the ESA said. "These instruments have been tried out before, during Hera's departure from Earth, but this is the first time that we have employed them on a small distant moon for which we still lack knowledge – demonstrating their excellent performance in the process," ESA Hera mission scientist Michael Kueppers said in the news release. The ESA's Mars Express, which has been orbiting the red planet for over 20 years, also contributed observations of the moon. Results from the encounter should help guide operational planning for a mission set to explore Martian moons in 2026, the ESA said. That mission, in conjunction with NASA and French and German space agencies, will collect detailed measurements of Mars' two moons and land on Phobos, the larger lunar body, to collect a sample that can be returned to Earth for analysis. Hera also used the flyby of Mars to adjust its trajectory through deep space. That maneuver shortened Hera's travel time to Dimorphos, the ESA said. Hera will also collect information about Didymos, the asteroid that Dimorphos orbits around. Hera is expected to reach the Didymos in December 2026, the ESA said. "This has been the Hera team's first exciting experience of exploration, but not our last," said Hera mission manager Ian Carnelli in the news release. "In 21 months the spacecraft will reach our target asteroids, and start our crash site investigation of the only object in our Solar System to have had its orbit measurably altered by human action." Trump reacts to European Union slapping tariffs on U.S. goods Kentucky bourbon maker says Trump tariffs immediately impacted his business Latest on missing American college student in the Dominican Republic
CBS News
13-03-2025
- Science
- CBS News
Mysterious Mars moon captured in unprecedented images by space probe
A space probe flying past Mars captured images of the red planet's small, mysterious moon. The space probe, named Hera, was launched on Oct. 7, 2024, and is on a mission to gather close-up data about the Dimorphos asteroid, the European Space Agency said in a news release. The asteroid was the first to have its orbit altered by human action, when it was impacted by NASA's DART spacecraft in 2022. The goal of Hera is to learn more about asteroid deflection so the technique can be refined and used again. While on a flyby of Mars, Hera was able to use three of its imaging instruments to capture images of Deimos, the smaller of Mars' two moons, the ESA said. Deimos is about 15,000 miles from Mars. Scientists have previously speculated that it may actually be a piece of asteroid, not a moon. Hera got as close as 1,000 kilometers, or about 620 miles, to Deimos. It used its various instruments to capture the images, characterize the mineral makeup on the moon and chart surface temperatures. These features combined will help scientists learn more about the lunar body, the ESA said. "These instruments have been tried out before, during Hera's departure from Earth, but this is the first time that we have employed them on a small distant moon for which we still lack knowledge – demonstrating their excellent performance in the process," ESA Hera mission scientist Michael Kueppers said in the news release. The ESA's Mars Express, which has been orbiting the red planet for over 20 years, also contributed observations of the moon. Results from the encounter should help guide operational planning for a mission set to explore Martian moons in 2026, the ESA said. That mission, in conjunction with NASA and French and German space agencies, will collect detailed measurements of Mars' two moons and land on Phobos, the larger lunar body, to collect a sample that can be returned to Earth for analysis. Hera also used the flyby of Mars to adjust its trajectory through deep space. That maneuver shortened Hera's travel time to Dimorphos, the ESA said. Hera will also collect information about Didymos, the asteroid that Dimorphos orbits around. Hera is expected to reach the Didymos in December 2026, the ESA said. "This has been the Hera team's first exciting experience of exploration, but not our last," said Hera mission manager Ian Carnelli in the news release. "In 21 months the spacecraft will reach our target asteroids, and start our crash site investigation of the only object in our Solar System to have had its orbit measurably altered by human action."
