Atmospheric spectroscopy at Gale Crater on Mars

TL;DR

This study analyzes atmospheric data from Gale Crater on Mars using the PFS instrument on Mars Express to investigate methane presence, focusing on a region with historical water evidence and Curiosity's methane detections.

Contribution

It provides new analysis of Mars atmospheric methane at Gale Crater using data from the PFS instrument, linking spectral data to potential biological or geological sources.

Findings

Detected methane signatures in Gale Crater

Correlated methane presence with historical water evidence

Provided spectral analysis supporting methane detection

Abstract

Currently, Mars is the celestial object with the biggest quantity of devices made by mankind. This fact explain the astronomical quantity of data available about this planet, which allows several studies in several lines of research. Here we present the result of a monograph in Space Geophysics, in a graduation in Geophysics, the data used were collected by the device PFS (Planetary Fourier Spectrometer) in the mission MEX (Mars Express) launched in 2006. The main aim was the verification of the existence of methane (CH 4 ) in a specific region in the atmosphere of the Red Planet. The target region, Gale Crater, is where the Rover Curiosity is right now. Therefore, the choice was because the strong evidence of liquid water in the past on this site, and because Curiosity has identified an unusual amount of methane in the local atmosphere.