Venus, the Planet: Introduction to the Evolution of Earth’s Sister Planet

Space Science Reviews Springer 219:1 (2023) 10

Authors:

Joseph G O’Rourke, Colin F Wilson, Madison E Borrelli, Paul K Byrne, Caroline Dumoulin, Richard Ghail, Anna JP Gülcher, Seth A Jacobson, Oleg Korablev, Tilman Spohn, MJ Way, Matt Weller, Frances Westall

Abstract:

Misconceptions are understandings of concepts that are not in accordance with scientific concepts. Teachers have the potential to experience misconceptions and misconceptions that occur in teachers can result in students also experiencing misconceptions. Research that examines science misconceptions in elementary school teachers is still rare, so there is a need for research examining science misconceptions in elementary school teachers, especially in elementary school teachers who are certified educators. Therefore, this study aims at determining whether science misconceptions occur in elementary school teachers with teaching certificates or not and how much misconceptions are experienced and the misconceptions occurred. This study employs descriptive quantitative by involving 17 certified elementary school teachers who are classroom teachers teaching several subjects in elementary schools including science subjects. Data collection was done by conducting a four tier misconception diagnosis test and the result was analyzed using by referring to four tier test concept developed by various researchers. The findings indicated that primary school teachers possessing teaching certificates exhibited science misconceptions at a rate of 22%, placing them in the low category of scientific understanding at 66%. Despite the relatively low occurrence of misconceptions, it is advisable for certified primary school teachers to further enhance their grasp of the concepts they impart to prevent any potential hindrance to the learning process

Measuring the variability of directly imaged exoplanets using vector Apodizing Phase Plates combined with ground-based differential spectrophotometry

(2023)

Authors:

Ben J Sutlieff, Jayne L Birkby, Jordan M Stone, David S Doelman, Matthew A Kenworthy, Vatsal Panwar, Alexander J Bohn, Steve Ertel, Frans Snik, Charles E Woodward, Andrew J Skemer, Jarron M Leisenring, Klaus G Strassmeier, David Charbonneau

Venus Express

Chapter in Encyclopedia of Astrobiology Third Edition, (2023) 3171-3183

Authors:

D Titov, H Svedhem, C Wilson

A two-Martian years survey of the water vapor saturation state on Mars based on ACS NIR/TGO occultations

Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets American Geophysical Union 128:1 (2022) e2022JE007348

Authors:

Anna Fedorova, Franck Montmessin, Alexander Trokhimovskiy, Mikhail Luginin, Oleg Korablev, Juan Alday, Denis Belyaev, James Holmes, Franck Lefevre, Kevin Olsen, Andrey Patrakeev, Alexey Shakun

Abstract:

On Mars, condensation is the major factor constraining the vertical distribution of water vapor. Recent measurements of water and temperature profiles showed that water can be strongly supersaturated at and above the level where clouds form during the aphelion and perihelion seasons. Since 2018, the near-infrared spectrometer (NIR) of the Atmospheric Chemistry Suite onboard the Trace Gas Orbiter has measured H2O and temperature profiles using solar occultation in the infrared from below 10 to 100 km of altitude. Here, we provide the first long-term monitoring of the water saturation state. The survey spans 2 Martian years from Ls = 163° of MY34 to Ls = 170° of MY36. We found that water is often supersaturated above aerosol layers. In the aphelion season, the water mixing ratio above 40 km in the mid-to-high latitudes was below 3 ppmv and yet is found to be supersaturated. Around the perihelion, water is also supersaturated above 60 km with a mixing ratio of 30–50 ppmv. Stronger saturation is observed during the dusty season in MY35 compared to what was observed in MY34 during the Global Dust Storm and around the perihelion. Saturation varied between the evening and morning terminators in response to temperature modulation imparted by thermal tides. Although water vapor is more abundant in the evening, colder morning temperatures induce a daily peak of saturation. This data set establishes a new paradigm for water vapor on Mars, revealing that supersaturation is nearly ubiquitous, particularly during the dust season, thereby promoting water escape on an annual average.

Helene's surface properties from a photometric multi-wavelength analysis

Icarus Elsevier 392 (2022) 115376

Authors:

E Royer, A Hendrix, J Elliott, L Esposito, C Howett, L Spilker

Abstract:

On January 31, 2011, the remote-sensing instruments onboard the Cassini spacecraft (UVIS (Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph; ISS (Imaging Science Subsystem); VIMS (Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer) and CIRS (Composite Infrared Spectrometer)) observed Helene, Dione's leading Lagrangian moon. We report here on the photometric characteristics of Helene between 0.11 μm and 5.2 μm. We find that Helene's spectrum is dominated by the signature of water-ice and we retrieve a grain size of 3.4 μm in the ultraviolet. At all wavelengths, Helene shows signs of being a relatively fresh surface less affected by space weathering effects than other observed surfaces in the Saturn system. We present the first phase curve of Helene at 0.61 μm and place our ultraviolet and near-IR results in a wider spectral context toward a better understanding of Helene's surface evolution. Previous studies suggested that either a recent impact on Helene or an asymmetric flux of E-ring particles could explain the satellite high surface brightness (Hedman et al., 2020). Results from this study favor the impactor hypothesis to explain Helene's photometric behavior.