e martë, shkurt 22, 2005

Mars Surface Diversity as Revealed by the OMEGA/Mars Express Observations

The OMEGA investigation, on board the ESA/Mars Express mission, is mapping the surface composition of Mars, at a 0.3 to 5 km resolution, by means of VIS-NIR hyperspectral reflectance imagery. The data acquired during the first nine months of the mission already reveal a diverse and complex surface mineralogy, offering key insights to the evolution of Mars. OMEGA has identified and mapped mafic iron-bearing silicates of both the northern and southern crust; localized concentrations of hydrated phyllosilicates and sulfates, and no carbonates; ices and frosts, with a water-ice composition of the north polar perennial cap, as for the south cap, covered by a thin CO2 - ice veneer.

posted by Selfmaderadio @ 2:58 e pasdites