Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 30, 2026
11:34
Scattering And Absorption of Light in Planetary Regoliths
Published on: July 1, 2019
11.1K
Dust observations at orbital altitudes surrounding Mars.
L Andersson1, T D Weber2, D Malaspina2
1Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA. laila.andersson@lasp.colorado.edu.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|November 7, 2015
Summary
Interplanetary dust particles have been observed entering Mars's atmosphere at high altitudes. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about dust transport and impacts our understanding of the inner solar system.
Area of Science:
- Planetary Science
- Atmospheric Science
- Astrogeology
Background:
- Dust is prevalent near Mars's surface, but its presence at high altitudes (>150 km) was unexplained by known atmospheric processes.
- Previous models did not account for significant dust concentrations at altitudes above 150 kilometers on Mars.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and origin of dust at high altitudes in the Martian atmosphere.
- To analyze the characteristics of observed dust particles and their implications for interplanetary dust dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Langmuir Probe and Wave instrument aboard the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft.
- Analyzed dust distribution data from 150 km to over 1000 km altitude.
- Compared observational data with laboratory measurements of dust properties.
Main Results:
- Detected dust at altitudes significantly higher than previously thought possible, ranging from 150 to over 1000 km.
- Interpreted the observed dust distribution as indicative of interplanetary origin.
- Estimated dust grain sizes between 1 and 12 micrometers, assuming a velocity of ~18 km/s.
Conclusions:
- Confirmed the presence of interplanetary dust entering the Martian atmosphere at high altitudes.
- Provided direct evidence improving understanding of interplanetary dust sources, sinks, and transport in the inner solar system.
- Highlighted the impact of this dust on Mars's atmospheric processes.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Kepler's First Law of Planetary Motion
6.1K
In the early 17th century, German astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler postulated three laws for the motion of planets in the solar system. He formulated his first two laws based on the observations of his forebears, Nikolaus Copernicus and Tycho Brahe.
Polish astronomer Nikolaus Copernicus put forth a theory that stated a heliocentric model for the solar system. According to this heliocentric theory, all the planets, including Earth, orbit the Sun in circular orbits.
On the other hand,...
Polish astronomer Nikolaus Copernicus put forth a theory that stated a heliocentric model for the solar system. According to this heliocentric theory, all the planets, including Earth, orbit the Sun in circular orbits.
On the other hand,...
6.1K
01:24Acceleration due to Gravity on Other Planets
5.2K
The gravitational acceleration of an object near the Earth's surface is called the acceleration due to gravity. It can be measured by conducting simple experiments on Earth. However, such an experiment is impossible to conduct on the surface of other planets.
Astronomical observations are thus used to measure the acceleration due to gravity on other planets. This can be determined by observing the effect of a planet's gravity on objects close to it. The crucial factor that helps in this...
Astronomical observations are thus used to measure the acceleration due to gravity on other planets. This can be determined by observing the effect of a planet's gravity on objects close to it. The crucial factor that helps in this...
5.2K
01:16Flame Photometry: Lab
1.2K
In a flame photometer, when a solution like potassium chloride is aspirated into the flame, the solvent evaporates, leaving behind dehydrated salt. This salt dissociates into free gaseous atoms in their ground state. Some of these atoms absorb energy from the flame, leading to their excitation. The excited atoms return to the ground state, emitting photons at characteristic wavelengths. Because only electronic transitions are involved, the resulting emission lines are very narrow. The intensity...
1.2K
01:15Torque Free Motion
909
The torque-free motion refers to the movement of a rigid body in space when no external torques are acting upon it. This type of motion can be observed in environments where there are no external forces or frictions, like in outer space. For example, a rotation of Mars in space is a torque-free motion. Mars is an axisymmetric object, meaning it has an axis of symmetry along which it rotates, designated as the z-axis. The rotating frame of reference is defined such that the center of mass of...
909
01:16Circular Orbits and Critical Velocity for Satellites
5.7K
The Moon orbits around the Earth. In turn, the Earth (and other planets) orbit the Sun. The space directly above our atmosphere is filled with artificial satellites in orbit. One can examine the circular orbit, the simplest kind of orbit, to understand the relationship between the speed and the period of planets and satellites with respect to their positions and the bodies that they orbit.
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) first suggested that the Earth and all other planets orbit the Sun in...
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) first suggested that the Earth and all other planets orbit the Sun in...
5.7K
01:02Flame Photometry: Overview
1.9K
Flame photometry, also known as flame emission spectrometry, is a technique used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of elements present in a sample using a flame as the source of excitation energy. The concept of flame photometry was realized in the early 1860s by Kirchhoff and Bunsen, who discovered that specific elements emit characteristic radiation when excited in flames. The first instrument developed for this purpose was used to measure sodium (Na) in plant ash using a Bunsen...
1.9K