Unprecedented images reveal how Saturn’s atmosphere is evolving as summertime winds down in its northern hemisphere.
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Mars Has Far Fewer Minerals Than Earth Does
The development of plate tectonics and life on Earth provided avenues for mineral evolution that did not occur on Mars, resulting in relatively limited mineral diversity on the Red Planet.
A Mystery About the Moon’s Deep Interior Endures
Geophysical data has suggested that the base of the Moon’s mantle is partially molten or contains ilmenite, but an improved rheology model puts the existence of this layer in doubt.
Dancing Dust on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Cometary activity moves sediments over the surface of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, with long-term sinks near the poles of the comet.
Dust in the (Martian) Wind
The InSight Lander, on Mars, intentionally dumped sand over its seismic instrument’s tether and the wind sorted the particles by size as it blew them away.
Hand Magnets Destroy the Magnetic Record of Meteorites
Meteorite collectors often use strong magnets for classification, but this approach destroys crucial evidence of processes active in the early solar system.
A New Origin Story for Mars’s Burns Formation
The Red Planet’s Grasberg and Burns formations have different compositions today, but they may have started out the same way.
A New View of Volcanism on Venus
Researchers present the most comprehensive catalog of Venusian volcanic edifices to date, providing new knowledge of the geological evolution of a relatively understudied planet.
Martian Rocks May Record Ancient Wind Directions
Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover images of abraded surface rocks may retain records of ancient wind directions, providing important ground-truth to our understanding of Mars’ recent climate history.
Martian Lava, Up Close and Personal
The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover conducted the first investigation of volcanic rocks where they stand in their original configuration on the surface of Mars.