Help @nasa scientists find clouds on Mars!
We're asking citizen scientists to help us identify clouds in data collected by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (#MRO). The extra data analysis may aid researchers in figuring out why the #RedPlanet's atmosphere is just 1% as dense as Earth's even though ample evidence suggests #Mars used to have a much thicker #atmosphere.
The project, dubbed #Cloudspotting on Mars, revolves around a 16-year #data record from #MRO, which has studied the planet since 2006. The spacecraft's Mars Climate Sounder instrument studies the atmosphere in #infrared light that's invisible to the human eye. In measurements taken by the instrument as MRO orbits around Mars, clouds appear as arches. The team needs help sifting through that data on Zooniverse, marking the arches so that #scientists can more efficiently study where in the atmosphere they happen.
If you'd like to join in, head to the link in bio for more information. go.nasa.gov/3Nt9dMQ
Credit: NASA/JPL.
#mars#JPL#NASA#marsreconnaissanceorbiter#solarsystem#martian#perseverancerover
Getting a closer look at #Phobos. The #Perseverance#Mars#rover used its powerful Mastcam-Z camera to take this zoomed-in video of Mars’ #moon Phobos as it crossed the #Sun. This solar eclipse lasted a little more than 40 seconds, which is much shorter than a typical solar eclipse involving #Earth’s Moon. This video can help scientists better understand Phobos’ orbit and how its gravity pulls on the interior of Mars, ultimately shaping the #RedPlanet’s crust and mantle. @nasa spacecraft have a long history of capturing solar eclipses on Mars, but Perseverance has provided the most zoomed-in video of a Phobos solar eclipse and at the highest frame rate yet. #science#NASA#JPL
Credit: JPL/NASA @nasajpl