Monitoring Mars with the Hubble Space Telecope: 1990-1991 Observations
None given. Discusses Mars observations with the Hubble Space Telescope.
Mars atmosphere surface meteorology Hubble↗
Engineering topics
Martin, L. J.
Publications and source records attributed to Martin, L. J..
Observed climatic activity pertaining to the evolution of the northern plains
Although most of the landforms observed by Viking were probably formed long before the advent of present climatic conditions, it is possible that some modifications occurred more recently and may continue to the present. Also, present climate activity provides another dataset for hypothesizing earlier climatic conditions. Observations of climatic activity in the northern plains from 1905 to 1993 are summarized. Data from Earthbound telescopes and from spacecraft, including the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), were used.
Martin, L. J.↗
Groundbased monitoring of Martian atmospheric opacity
The amount of dust in the Martian atmosphere is variable in both space and time. The presence of aerosols in the Mars atmosphere complicates quantitative analysis of Martian surface properties. We have developed a model for Mars surface and atmospheric scattering based on equations in Hillier et al (1991). This formulation was chosen for its speed of computation and because it accounts for the spherical geometry of atmospheric scattering at high mission angles, i.e., near the planetary limb.
Herkenhoff, K. E.↗
Might it be possible to predict the onset of major Martian dust storms?
The possible indicators of impending Martian dust storms are discussed. Topics covered include the following: seasonal effects, perihelion, recession of the north polar hood; and Hellas Basin.
Martin, L. J.↗
Using the historical record to determine dust sources
We have recently completed a study of virtually all reported dust activity noted in contemporary and historical records of Mars observations. This study included the compilation of maps showing the locations of these events to the degree that they could be determined. Whenever possible, regional (major) storms were individually mapped, as well as on a composite map. Areas of local events were shown only on a composite map. The four mappable plane-encircling storms were each given separate treatment on maps that portray their development around the planet.
Martin, L. J.↗
Observed changes in limb clouds immediately prior to the onset of planet-encircling dust storms
Of the several size and nomenclature groupings of Martian dust storms, it is the plane-encircling or truly runaway dust storms that are of most concern to both the theoreticians and mission planners. Once believed to be regularly seasonal, it is now known that they are not annual occurrences and that the few we know about occurred within at least one-third of Mars' seasonal cycle. We cannot confirm that any were observed before 1956, and not one has been observed since 1982 (the classification of that event as 'encircling' is an interpretation of observation from a single point on the planet's surface). If these storms occur in cycles, we do not know the lengths or causes of the cycles. Regional and local dust storms occur more frequently and throughout the Martian year, but the underlying question is how do some become runaways, encircling the planet, while the others die out, usually within a few days. An investigation of this topic is presented.
Martin, L. J.↗
The interannual variability of polar cap recessions as a measure of Martian climate and weather: Using Earth-based data to augment the time line for the Mars observer mapping mission
The recessions of the polar ice caps are the most visible and most studied indication of seasonal change on Mars. Circumstantial evidence links these recessions to the seasonal cycles of CO2, water, and dust. The possible advent of a planet encircling storm during the Mars Observer (MO) mission will provide a detailed correlation with a cap recession for that one Martian year. That cap recession will then be compared with other storm and nonstorm years. MO data will also provide a stronger link between cap recessions and the water and CO2 cycles. Cap recession variability might also be used to determine the variability of these cycles. After nearly a century of valiant attempts at measuring polar cap recessions, including Mariner 9 and Viking data, MO will provide the first comprehensive dataset. In contrast to MO, the older data are much less detailed and precise and could be forgotten, except that it will still be the only information on interannual variability. By obtaining simultaneous Earth-based observations (including those from Hubble) during the MO mission, direct comparisons can be made between the datasets.
Martin, L. J.↗
Photoelectric observations of asteroids 3, 24, 60, 261, and 863
Observations of the five asteroids designated 3 Juno, 24 Themis, 60 Echo, 261 Prymo, and 863 Benkoela over the 1978-1984 period have been subjected to Fourier analysis to obtain composite lightcurves. The method yields a rotation-period value, mean absolute magnitudes for each night of observation, and Fourier coefficients that define composite-lightcurve shape, with formal error estimates for all quantities. The first three of the asteroids listed exhibit significant variation in surface albedo.
Harris, A. W.↗
Circumpolar hoods and clouds and their relation to the Martian H2O cycle
Water exists in both vapor and solid phases in the Martian atmosphere. The polar hoods are shrouds of condensate clouds which obscure both polar regions at times during their respective fall and winter seasons. The hemispheric asymmetries in the polar hood clouds are reviewed and their significance to the seasonal water cycle is discussed. Comparisons of images acquired using short wavelength filters, which provide maximum cloud contrast, and long wavelength filters, which are sensitive to surface features including the surface cap, provide correlations between cloud formation and large scale planetary dynamics.
James, Philip B.↗
The great dust storm of 1986
It is reported that on the global scale, no major dust storm activity was seen during telescopic observations of Mars during the several months or so preceeding this conference. However, the corresponding season on Mars was early fall, which is at the beginning of the dust storm season. It was too early to tell, therefore, if a great dust storm was going to occur that year. Current observations and what they show about present atmospheric conditions and the recession of the South Polar Cap is discussed.
Martin, L. J.↗
Photoelectric photometry of asteroid 69 Hesperia
UBV photometric observations of the M asteroid 69 Hesperia, obtained using single-channel photometers on the 31-in. and 42-in. reflectors at Lowell Observatory and on the 24-in. reflector at Mauna Kea Observatory during the apparition of August-November 1977, are reported. The data are presented in tables and graphs and analyzed. Findings presented include minimal temporal or phase-angle-dependent light-curve fluctuations, evidence for large-scale albedo variegation of a few percent, synodic rotation period 5.65537 + or - 0.00064 h, zero-phase color indices B-V = 0.68 mag and U-B = 0.24 mag, B-V phase reddening 0.003 mag/deg, and absolute zero-phase primary maximum magnitude V = 7.04.
Poutanen, M.↗
Post-mission Viking data anaysis
Three Mars data analysis projects from the Viking Mars program were identified initially, and three more came into being as the work proceeded. All together, these six pertained to: (1) the veritical distribution of scattering particles in the Martian atmosphere at various locations in various seasons, (2) the physical parameters that define photometric properties of the Martian surface and atmosphere, (3) patterns of dust-cloud and global dust-storm development, (4) a direct comparison of near-simultaneous Viking and ground-based observations, (5) the annual formation and dissipation of polar frost caps, and (6) evidence concerning possible present-day volcanism or venting. A list of publications pertaining to the appropriate projects is included.
Baum, W. A.↗
Clearing the Martian air - The troubled history of dust storms
This note is an attempt to resolve some misconceptions regarding the historical record of the Martian atmospheric phenomena referred to as 'dust storms,' but often called yellow storms, yellow clouds, planetwide dust storms, global dust storms, great dust storms, etc. The known frequency of planet-encircling storms will be specifically addressed. Better knowledge of the sizes, frequencies, and locations of Martian dust storms is needed for atmospheric modeling and for future mission planning.
Martin, L. J.↗
Clouds above the Martin Limb: Viking observations
Whenever Viking Orbiter images included the limb of Mars, they recorded one or more layers of clouds above the limb. The height above the limb and the brightness (reflectivity) of these clouds were determined in a selected group of these images. Normalized individual brightness profiles of three separate traverses across the limb of each image are shown. The most notable finding is that some of these clouds can be very high. Many reach heights of over 60 km, and several are over 70 km above the limb. Statistically, the reflectivity of the clouds increases with phase angle. Reflectivity and height both appear to vary with season, but the selected images spanned only one Martian year, so the role of seasons cannot be isolated. Limb clouds in red-filter images tend to be brighter than violet-filter images, but both season and phase appear to be more dominant factors. Due to the limited sample available, the possible influences of latitude and longitude are less clear. The layering of these clouds ranges from a single layer to five or more layers. Reflectivity gradients range from smooth and gentle to steep and irregular.
Martin, L. J.↗
Theoretical interpretation of photometric properties of the Martian surface and atmosphere
Earth-based UBV photometry, photographs from the Lowell Observatory, and Mariner 9 data are combined with a new radiative transfer theory to derive physical parameters for the Martian surface and atmosphere, both before and during the 1971 dust storm. Storm dust particles had a single scattering albedo of 0.84 plus or minus 0.02 and an asymmetry factor of 0.35 plus or minus 0.10 in green (V) light. The geometric albedo of Mars was 0.15 and the phase integral 1.83, yielding 0.27 for the Bond albedo. The mean optical thickness of the 'clear' atmosphere averaged over the whole planet was 0.15 plus or minus 0.05 and was not dependent on wavelength. Geometric albedos for the surface are 0.25 (light areas) and 0.17 (dark areas) in V, 0.095 in B, and 0.060 in U. The soil particles are moderately backward scattering with an asymmetry factor of minus 0.20, and therefore rather opaque. The mean surface roughness is 0.57, representing the depth/radius ratio of an average hole, and being only one-half as large as values typical for the moon and asteroids.
Lumme, K.↗
International planetary patrol observations of Saturn's rings. II - Four color phase curves and their analysis
New phase curves for Saturn's rings at an intermediate tilt angle B of about 17 deg are presented. Quantitative results for each of the A and B rings are reported in terms of the opposition effect, phase coefficient, and best logarithmic fit to the phase curve. There was no significant difference between the shape of the phase curves for the two rings in each of the four colors, and a four-parameter multiple scattering model of the rings was consistent with the observations. In this model, the difference in the phase curves for different colors can be explained by a variation in the single scattering albedo with wavelength. The observations allow the particles to have the same composition in the A and B rings, so that their different photometric behavior is explained by differences in optical depth and volume density in the two rings.
Esposito, L. W.↗
Azimuthal brightness variations of Saturn's rings. III - Observations at tilt angle B approximately equal to 11.5 deg
The brightness variation in Saturn's ring A with orbital phase of the ring particles does not change significantly as the declination of the earth, B, decreases from about 16.5 to 11.5 deg and is noticeably more pronounced than when the rings are fully open. The present data are also not inconsistent with earlier results suggesting that the amplitude of this azimuthal effect diminishes near opposition.
Lumme, K.↗
The diameter of Pallas from its occultation of SAO 85009
The May 29, 1978, occultation of SAO 85009 by Pallas was observed photoelectrically at seven widely spaced sites. The observations are well represented by an elliptical apparent limb profile having semimajor and semiminor axes of 279.5 + or - 2.9 and 262.7 + or - 4.5 km, respectively. Combining these results with published information on the light curve and rotational pole position, Pallas's mean diameter is found to be 538 + or - 12 km, which yields a mean density for Pallas of 2.8 + or - 0.5 g/cu cm and a visual geometric albedo of 0.103 + or - 0.005. The diameter of Pallas as determined from this occultation is significantly smaller than the values derived by radiometric, polarimetric, and double-image techniques.
Wasserman, L. H.↗