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Article
Open AccessMoons and Jupiter Imaging Spectrometer (MAJIS) on Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE)
The MAJIS (Moons And Jupiter Imaging Spectrometer) instrument on board the ESA JUICE (JUpiter ICy moon Explorer) mission is an imaging spectrometer operating in the visible and near-infrared spectral range fro...
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Article
Open AccessSIMBIO-SYS: Scientific Cameras and Spectrometer for the BepiColombo Mission
The SIMBIO-SYS (Spectrometer and Imaging for MPO BepiColombo Integrated Observatory SYStem) is a complex instrument suite part of the scientific payload of the Mercury Planetary Orbiter for the BepiColombo mis...
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Article
Infrared detection of aliphatic organics on a cometary nucleus
The European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission1 has acquired unprecedented measurements of the surface of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko (hereafter, 67P), the composition of which, as determined by i...
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Article
The changing temperature of the nucleus of comet 67P induced by morphological and seasonal effects
Knowledge of the surface temperature distribution on a comet’s nucleus and its temporal evolution at different timescales is key to constraining its thermophysical properties and understanding the physical pro...
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Article
A unique mission: Cassini-Huygens, the Orbiter, the descent Probe and the cruise science
The Cassini-Huygens mission has characterized the Solar System exploration scenario for more than 30 years, from when it was conceived until the completion of its long life. Its legacy is an enormous amount of...
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Article
Bright carbonate deposits as evidence of aqueous alteration on (1) Ceres
High-resolution near-infrared observations of the Occator bright areas on the dwarf planet Ceres suggest that the bright material is mostly made up of endogenous sodium carbonate.
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Article
Exposed water ice on the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko
Using infrared wavelengths, micrometre-sized water-ice grains have been identified on the nucleus (which is mostly coated in a dark material) of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.
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Article
Ammoniated phyllosilicates with a likely outer Solar System origin on (1) Ceres
Infrared spectra of (1) Ceres acquired at distances of 82,000 to 4,300 kilometres from the surface indicate widespread ammoniated phyllosilicates; the presence of ammonia suggests that material from the outer ...
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Article
The diurnal cycle of water ice on comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko
Observations of water ice on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko show the ice appearing and disappearing in a cyclic pattern that follows local illumination conditions, providing a source of localiz...
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Article
Olivine in an unexpected location on Vesta’s surface
Although olivine was expected to occur within the deep, south-pole basins of asteroid Vesta, which are thought to be excavated mantle rocks, spectral data from NASA’s Dawn spacecraft show that it instead occur...
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Article
Dark material on Vesta from the infall of carbonaceous volatile-rich material
From spectra and images of Vesta, it is suggested that the dark patches on Vesta are formed of infalling hydrated carbonaceous material and the bright patches are uncontaminated Vesta soil.
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Article
Saturn Satellites as Seen by Cassini Mission
In this paper we will summarize some of the most important results of the Cassini mission concerning the satellites of Saturn. The Cassini Mission was launched in October 1997 on a Titan IV-Centaur rocket from...
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Article
Open AccessTriple F—a comet nucleus sample return mission
The Triple F (Fresh From the Fridge) mission, a Comet Nucleus Sample Return, has been proposed to ESA’s Cosmic Vision program. A sample return from a comet enables us to reach the ultimate goal of cometary resear...
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Article
Dawn Mission to Vesta and Ceres
The initial exploration of any planetary object requires a careful mission design guided by our knowledge of that object as gained by terrestrial observers. This process is very evident in the development of t...
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Article
Surface composition of Hyperion
Saturn's moon Hyperion, an irregular shaped object in a tumbling orbit, looks odd: the Cassini flyby of September 2005 revealed a unique spongy surface. Two papers this week present the initial Cassini results...
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Article
Virtis: An Imaging Spectrometer for the Rosetta Mission
The VIRTIS (Visual IR Thermal Imaging Spectrometer) experiment has been one of the most successful experiments built in Europe for Planetary Exploration. VIRTIS, developed in cooperation among Italy, France a...
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Article
Release of volatiles from a possible cryovolcano from near-infrared imaging of Titan
The surface of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is coated in a dense methane-rich atmosphere that prevents high-resolution imaging at visible wavelengths. During its first Titan flyby last October, the Cassini sp...
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Article
G-MODE CLASSIFICATION OF SPECTROSCOPIC DATA
We present the results of the application of the G-mode method to the spectral classification of the icy satellites of the giant planets. G-mode is a multivariate statistical technique for the classification of s...
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Article
THE ATMOSPHERES OF SATURN AND TITAN IN THE NEAR-INFRARED: FIRST RESULTS OF CASSINI/VIMS
The wide spectral coverage and extensive spatial, temporal, and phase-angle map** capabilities of the Visual Infrared Map** Spectrometer (VIMS) onboard the Cassini-Huygens Orbiter are producing fundamental...
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Article
Compositional maps of Saturn's moon Phoebe from imaging spectroscopy
Phoebe, the outermost large satellite of Saturn, is of particular interest because its unusual orbit suggests that it was gravitationally captured by Saturn, having formed outside the solar nebula where Saturn...
