Tag

Mars

All articles tagged with #mars

science1 day ago•0 min saved

JAXA and NASA Launch Mission to Return Phobos Samples to Earth

The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, led by Japan’s JAXA with key contributions from NASA, is scheduled to launch on October 19, 2026, from Tanegashima Space Center. The spacecraft aims to orbit Mars, land on the moon Phobos, and return a sample to Earth by 2031. This mission seeks to determine the origin of Mars’ moons, which are believed to be either captured asteroids or debris from a giant impact. NASA provided the MEGANE spectrometer and Deep Space Network support, while ESA, CNES, and DLR also contributed to the international effort.

via USA Today|

#jaxa #mars #mmx

science3 days ago•154 min saved

Perseverance Shatters Mars Driving Record, Eyes 100km Future

NASA's Perseverance rover has officially broken the record for the most distance traveled on another planet, surpassing the 28.06 miles (45.16 km) achieved by Opportunity in 2018. Perseverance reached 28.10 miles (45.22 km) on October 11, 2026, in just 5.5 years, compared to Opportunity's 14 years. The rover's advanced autonomous navigation system, AutoNav, allows it to drive up to 1,351 feet in a single Martian day. Mission leaders expect Perseverance to potentially double its current distance, reaching 100 km, as it continues exploring Jezero Crater's rim.

via Space|

#autonomous-navigation #jpl #mars

space3 days ago

Perseverance Surpasses Opportunity’s Mileage Record in Half the Time

NASA’s Perseverance rover has officially become the vehicle to travel the farthest distance on another planet, surpassing the previous record held by Opportunity. On October 11, 2026, Perseverance reached 28.1 miles (45.22 km) on the surface of Mars, exceeding Opportunity’s 28.06 miles (45.16 km). Perseverance achieved this milestone in just over five years, whereas Opportunity took nearly 15 years to reach its mark. The record was set while the rover was exploring the western rim of Jezero Crater, specifically an area known as Lac de Charmes, where scientists are searching for evidence of ancient hydrothermal systems. This achievement highlights the effectiveness of Perseverance’s autonomous navigation system, AutoNav, which allows the rover to plan its own routes while moving. NASA has extended the mission through 2028, and officials expect the rover to continue adding to its record for years to come.

via CBS News|

#jezero-crater #jpl #mars

science7 days ago•1 min saved

Mars’s Recurring Ice Cloud Solved by 'Exotic' Physics

Scientists have identified the mechanism behind the Arsia Mons Elongated Cloud, a recurring water ice formation on Mars that defied previous models. The cloud forms via 'homogeneous nucleation,' a process where water vapor freezes directly into ice without needing dust particles, a phenomenon previously thought impossible in planetary atmospheres.

via BBC Sky at Night Magazine|

#atmospheric-science #esa #homogeneous-nucleation

space7 days ago•3 min saved

Curiosity Rover Captures Unbalanced Dawn Panorama of Mysterious Martian Yardangs

NASA’s Curiosity rover has released a new panoramic image of wind-carved cliffs known as yardangs on Mount Sharp, captured during Martian dawn on August 11, 2026. The image, processed without white balancing to preserve the early morning light, highlights a geological layer that scientists find puzzling due to its color and angle. The rover, which has climbed over 1 kilometer since landing in 2012, aims to reach this specific layer by 2027 or 2028 for detailed analysis.

via PetaPixel|

#curiosity-rover #mars #mount-sharp

science-and-technology7 days ago•1 min saved

Curiosity Rover Captures Dawn Panorama of Mysterious Martian Yardangs

NASA’s Curiosity rover has released a new panoramic image of Mars taken at dawn on August 11, 2026. The photo, captured by the Mastcam instrument, reveals wind-carved rock formations known as yardangs on Mount Sharp. These structures, estimated to be three billion years old, are part of a geological layer that scientists find puzzling because it appears distinct from the mountain’s primary stratigraphy. The rover, which has climbed over one kilometer in elevation since landing in 2012, aims to reach these cliffs by 2027 or 2028 to analyze their origin.

via New York Post|

#curiosity-rover #geology #mars

science7 days ago•14 min saved

Mars Cloud Mystery Solved by 'Impossible' Physics

A new study in Nature Geoscience explains the formation of Mars's Arsia Mons Elongated Cloud (AMEC) using homogeneous nucleation, a process previously thought impossible in planetary atmospheres. The cloud, first spotted by ESA's Mars Express in 2018, forms daily during the southern hemisphere's dusty season. It stretches up to 1,800 km downwind of the Arsia Mons volcano. Researchers found that conventional models failed to replicate the cloud's behavior. By incorporating homogeneous nucleation, where water vapor freezes directly into ice without dust particles, the model successfully matched observations. This discovery suggests Mars's atmosphere can reach extreme supersaturation levels, challenging existing assumptions about cloud physics on Earth and other worlds.

via Gizmodo|

#astronomy #atmospheric-science #cloud-formation

science8 days ago•14 min saved

Curiosity Captures Unbalanced Dawn Panorama of Mysterious Martian Yardangs

NASA’s Curiosity rover captured a detailed panorama of wind-carved cliffs called yardangs on Mount Sharp during Martian dawn on August 11, 2026. The image, processed without white balancing to preserve the morning light, reveals a geological layer that scientists find puzzling due to its color and angle. Curiosity has reached 1 kilometer of elevation and aims to reach the base of these cliffs by 2027 to analyze their origin.

via Gizmodo|

#curiosity-rover #mars #mount-sharp

science-and-technology8 days ago•14 min saved

Curiosity's Unbalanced Dawn Photo Reveals Mystery Cliffs on Mount Sharp

NASA's Curiosity rover has released a new panoramic image of a Martian sunrise, offering the most detailed view yet of wind-carved cliffs known as yardangs. Captured on August 11, 2026, the image was processed without standard white balancing to preserve the early morning light. The photo highlights a mysterious geological layer on Mount Sharp that scientists hope to reach by 2027 to determine its origin.

via USA Today|

#curiosity-rover #mars #mount-sharp

science9 days ago•1 min saved

Curiosity Captures Dawn Over Ancient Martian Yardangs

NASA’s Curiosity rover has released a new image of dawn on Mars, highlighting wind-carved rock formations known as yardangs. These structures, located on Mount Sharp, are estimated to be 3 billion years old and represent a distinct geological layer added after the mountain’s primary formation. The rover, which has climbed over 1 kilometer since landing in 2012, aims to reach this specific layer by 2027 or 2028 for detailed analysis.

via The Detroit News|

#curiosity-rover #geology #mars

science9 days ago•98 min saved

Mars's Daily 1,800 km Cloud Formed via Never-Seen 'Homogeneous Nucleation'

A recurring 1,800 km-long water ice cloud on Mars, known as the Arsia Mons Elongated Cloud (AMEC), forms daily via 'homogeneous nucleation,' a process previously only theoretical. Published in Nature Geoscience on Oct. 7, the study shows this exotic physics explains the cloud's rapid formation and evaporation, challenging standard models of cloud formation in planetary atmospheres.

via Live Science|

#atmospheric-physics #cloud-formation #esa-mars-express

science11 days ago•6 min saved

Olympus Mons May Not Be the Solar System's Tallest Mountain

Olympus Mons is currently the highest known mountain in the Solar System, rising 21.9 km from base to peak. However, it represents only 0.65% of Mars's radius. Other bodies like Io, Iapetus, and Vesta have higher percentage peaks relative to their sizes. Unmapped regions on Uranian and Neptunian moons and trans-Neptunian objects may hide taller features.

via Big Think|

#astronomy #geology #mars

science11 days ago•122 min saved

Mars North Pole Ice Cap Found to Be 90% Cleaner Than Previously Estimated

A new study corrects a major error in Mars science, revealing that the north polar ice cap contains only about 3% dust by mass, rather than the previously estimated 25%. Researchers Aditya Khuller and Pari Mohan used Earth-based snow models to analyze data from the Phoenix lander and orbiters, finding that the ice is layered like an 'ice-cream sandwich' with seasonal dust frost covering cleaner, older ice. This finding impacts models of Martian climate history and potential habitability.

via Space|

#astrobiology #climate-history #ice-core-analysis

science13 days ago•1 min saved

Curivity Marks 5,000 Mars Days with New Panorama; APOD Highlights 2018 Ridge Selfie

NASA’s Curiosity rover has reached the 5,000-sol milestone on Mars, releasing a new composite panorama from its current location on Mount Sharp. Simultaneously, the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) featured a historical 2018 selfie taken at Vera Rubin Ridge, highlighting the rover’s long-term progress up the mountain’s slope.

via NASA Science (.gov)|

#astronomy #curiosity-rover #gale-crater

science14 days ago•14 min saved

Mars North Pole Ice Found to Be 3% Dust, Not 25%

A new study published in npj Space Exploration corrects a major error in Mars science, revealing that the north polar ice cap contains only about 3% dust by mass, rather than the previously estimated 25%. Researchers Aditya Khuller and Pari Mohan used Earth-based snow models to analyze data from the Phoenix lander and orbiters, finding that the ice is layered like an 'ice-cream sandwich' with seasonal dust frost covering cleaner, older ice. This finding impacts models of Martian climate history and potential habitability.

via Gizmodo|

#astrobiology #climate-history #ice-core-analysis