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Planetary Science Journal

All articles tagged with #planetary science journal

space25 days ago•26 min saved

Mars spiders finally revealed: CO2 ice and soil pores sculpt the Martian araneiform terrain

NASA-led work confirms Mars’ seasonal carbon-dioxide ice drives the spider-like araneiform terrain; 2024 lab experiments reproduced CO2 condensation, sublimation and plume formation that carve the features, while a 2026 follow-up shows soil grain size and moisture beneath the ice influence crack networks and plume vigor. Mature spiders are not yet directly observed, but the findings suggest these processes could record Mars’ wetter past, with results published in The Planetary Science Journal.

via zmescience.com|

#araneiform-terrain #co2-ice #mars

science1 month ago•53 min saved

Apophis 2029 Flyby Could Be Obscured by Space Debris, Scientists Warn

Asteroid 99942 Apophis (about 370 meters long) will pass within ~32,000 kilometers of Earth in April 2029. New simulations indicate a collision with high-Earth-orbit space debris could occur, which would not significantly alter Apophis's orbit but could complicate interpreting gravity-driven changes during the flyby. The possibility underscores gaps in debris surveys and could spur improved monitoring ahead of the encounter, with ESA's RAMSES and NASA–ESA OSIRIS-APEX observations planned.

via Yahoo|

#apophis #geostationary-orbit #near-earth-object

space-science2 years ago•2 min saved

Cracking the Enigma: Unraveling the Mystery of Lunar Swirls

New evidence suggests that the mysterious bright "swirls" on the moon's surface, known as lunar swirls, may be correlated with topography. Contrary to previous beliefs, the bright markings occur at different elevations than their darker surroundings. Scientists used data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to investigate two separate lunar swirl regions and found that the bright areas were lower in elevation than the surrounding dark marks. The cause of these swirls is still unknown, but this new research suggests that topography may play a role in their formation.

via Livescience.com|

#lunar-swirls #moon #nasa