astronomy190 - topics in astronomy astronomy and astrobiology lecture 14 : modern mars ty robinson
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Astronomy190 - Topics in Astronomy
Astronomy and Astrobiology
Lecture 14 : Modern Mars
Ty Robinson
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Questions of the Day
• How has our understanding of Mars changed over the last 100 years?
• What did the Viking Biological Experiments tell us about the habitability of Mars’ surface?
• How has the Phoenix Lander influenced our perspective on the present-day habitability of Mars?
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Perspective
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Circa 1900
hand drawn map1894
The Good The Bad The Imaginative
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What We Learned
• Polar Caps• Seasons• Atmosphere
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Mariner 4
Launch: Nov. 1964Flyby: July 1965
~300km = 200miles
~300km = 200miles
Instruments: - camera - magnetometer
QuestionWhat can we learn?
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What We Learned
• Atmosphere– Thin (~0.01 bars)
• Climate– Cold (-100 °C)
• Polar Caps– CO2 ice
– H2O ice
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Questions?Mariner 4 failed to measure a strong magnetic field around Mars. This is tells us…
Mars does not rotate fast enough
Mars’ composition is very different from that of Earth
Mars is not within the Habitable Zone
Mars does not have a liquid, conducting core
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Questions?Mars does not have a liquid, conducting core. This tells us…
Mars cannot support life
Mars’ composition is very different from that of Earth
Mars is geologically inactive
Mars atmosphere is not volcanically-derived
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Viking Landers
Launch: Aug., Sep. 1975Operation: 1976-1982
Instruments: - cameras - temp. sensors - wind sensors - seismometer - gas sensors
QuestionWhat can we learn?
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What We Learned
• Geological Activity– None at present
• Polar Caps– CO2 ice
– H2O ice
• Atmosphere– Thin (~0.01 bars)
– Composition (CO2, N2, O2)
• Weather– Dust storms
• Climate– Cold (-100 °C)– T. Var’n (-140 to 30 °C)
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Viking Biological Experiments
1 - carbon assimilation experiment
2 - gas exchange experiment
3 - labeled release experiment
4 - gas chromatograph experiment
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Carbon Assimilation
+ + +
+ +
=
In the chamber… add Martian soil… and radioactive carbon…
and water… and light.
Evacuate the chamber and bake the soil to release volatiles.
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Gas Exchange
+ + =
Controls: - add only water - perform experiment without light - bake the soil before the experiment
Question
What are some control experiments?
In the chamber… add Martian soil… and nutrients.
Monitor the gases inside the chamber through time.
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Labeled Release
+ +
=
Control = heat the soil first
In the chamber… add Martian soil…
and nutrients containing radioactive carbon.
Monitor the gases inside the chamber through time.
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Gas Chromatograph
+ + =
Result : Martian soil contains even less organic material than Lunar soils returned by the Apollo astronauts.
Life on Mars’ Surface
In the chamber… add Martian soil… and bake.
Look for organic-derived gases.
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Mars Odyssey
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Landing Sites
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Phoenix Lander
Launch: Aug. 2007Operation: Aug-Nov 2008
Instruments: - cameras - weather sensors - soil analysis tools
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What We Learned
• Geological Activity– None at present
• Polar Caps– CO2 ice
– H2O ice
• Atmosphere– Thin (~0.01 bars)
– Composition (CO2, N2, O2)
• Weather– Dust storms
• Climate – Cold (-100 °C)
– T. Var’n (-140 to 30 °C)
• Sub-surface– H2O ice
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Phoenix Descent
Heimdall Crater (10km Wide)
Phoenix Lander parachuting to surface
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Phoenix Landed
heat shield
parachute
Phoenix
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Phase Diagram
Credit : Toby Smith
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Mars Present-Day Habitability I
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Mars Present-Day Habitability II
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Methane?
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Questions?If the methane on bars is due to life, the type of organism most likely responsible for creating the methane is…
chemoautotroph
chemoheterotroph
photoautotroph
photoheterotroph
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Questions?
Assuming chemoautotrophs are responsible for methane on Mars, what might explain the observations that methane levels vary seasonally?
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Mars Overview
Polar caps
Atmosphere
Weather
Climate
Subsurface ice
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Questions of the Day
• How has our understanding of Mars changed over the last 100 years?
• What did the Viking Biological Experiments tell us about the habitability of Mars’ surface?
• How has the Phoenix Lander influenced our perspective on the present-day habitability of Mars?
![Page 31: Astronomy190 - Topics in Astronomy Astronomy and Astrobiology Lecture 14 : Modern Mars Ty Robinson](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062409/56649d235503460f949f987d/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Quiz
3 - What is one thing you did not understand from today’s lecture?
2 - Explain the arguments for why we might expect to find subsurface liquid water on Mars. What evidence do we have for this?
1 - In light of the Viking Biological Experiments, why do most scientists rule out the possibility of life on the surface of modern-day Mars?