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Martian Spherules
Martian spherules (also known as hematite spherules, blueberries, & Martian blueberries) are small spherules (roughly spherical pebbles) that are rich in an iron oxide (grey hematite, α-Fe2O3) and are found at Meridiani Planum (a large plain on Mars) in mind-bogglingly large numbers. These spherules were discovered for sure on the sol (Martian day) that NASA's Mars Exploration Rover ''Opportunity'' landed at Meridiani Planum. (At NASA's Mission Control building that was January 24th, 2004.) They are grey but look bluish next to the ubiquitous rusty reds on Mars, and since the first spherules found in Eagle Crater were 3-6 mm in diameter, the ''Opportunity'' team quickly called them "blueberries". Martian blueberries are either embedded or loose. That is, Martian blueberries are either embedded in the large body of sediments of Meridiani Planum, or they are loose blueberries that lie directly on outcrops of the sediments or lie on top soils spread over the Meridiani sediment ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hematite
Hematite (), also spelled as haematite, is a common iron oxide compound with the formula, Fe2O3 and is widely found in rocks and soils. Hematite crystals belong to the rhombohedral lattice system which is designated the alpha polymorph of . It has the same crystal structure as corundum () and ilmenite (). With this it forms a complete solid solution at temperatures above . Hematite naturally occurs in black to steel or silver-gray, brown to reddish-brown, or red colors. It is mined as an important ore mineral of iron. It is electrically conductive. Hematite varieties include ''kidney ore'', ''martite'' ( pseudomorphs after magnetite), ''iron rose'' and ''specularite'' ( specular hematite). While these forms vary, they all have a rust-red streak. Hematite is not only harder than pure iron, but also much more brittle. Maghemite is a polymorph of hematite (γ-) with the same chemical formula, but with a spinel structure like magnetite. Large deposits of hematite are ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Magnesium Sulfate
Magnesium sulfate or magnesium sulphate (in English-speaking countries other than the US) is a chemical compound, a salt with the formula , consisting of magnesium cations (20.19% by mass) and sulfate anions . It is a white crystalline solid, soluble in water but not in ethanol. Magnesium sulfate is usually encountered in the form of a hydrate , for various values of ''n'' between 1 and 11. The most common is the heptahydrate , known as Epsom salt, which is a household chemical with many traditional uses, including bath salts. The main use of magnesium sulfate is in agriculture, to correct soils deficient in magnesium (an essential plant nutrient because of the role of magnesium in chlorophyll and photosynthesis). The monohydrate is favored for this use; by the mid 1970s, its production was 2.3 million tons per year. The anhydrous form and several hydrates occur in nature as minerals, and the salt is a significant component of the water from some springs. Hydrates Magnesi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Endeavour Crater
Endeavour is an impact crater located in the Meridiani Planum extraterrestrial plain within the Margaritifer Sinus quadrangle (MC-19) region of the planet Mars. Endeavour is about in diameter. Using ''Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter'' data, phyllosilicate-bearing outcrops have been detected along its rim. These minerals may have formed under wet conditions in a low-acidic environment during the early history of Mars. There are raised rim segments to the north, east, and southwest. The rim has become worn, rounded and degraded, with infilling of plains material in a manner similar to the Victoria crater. When compared to the surrounding plains, the crater floor shows an enhanced spectral signature of basalt and hematite. The interior contains two groups of dune fields. Images taken since 2008 show evidence of changes in some of the associated formations, which may be evidence of active erosion by the martian wind over a period of two to three years. The plains surrounding the r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Victoria Carter
Victoria Mary Carter is a former New Zealand politician. She is now a professional company director and businesswoman. Early life Carter, born in England, came to New Zealand with her mother, journalist Valerie Davies. Her stepfather was journalist, Pat Booth. Education and early career Carter holds a law degree from the University of Auckland and has a varied background in public relations, marketing, and governance. Carter has served on the boards of Kidicorp, Turner’s Auctions, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, Auckland Racing Club, and JUCY group. She was extensively involved with the Auckland Kindergarten Association from 1995 to 2005, as Chair (4 years), Deputy-Chair (3 years), and Councillor (3 years), ending up as the President of the Association. Political career Carter was elected as an Auckland City Councillor in 1998 for the Hobson ward. Carter was the first independent trustee to be elected to the Auckland Energy Consumer Trust in 1997, but had to resign ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Naturaliste (crater)
''Opportunity'' is a robotic rover that was active on the planet Mars from 2004 to 2018. Launched on July 7, 2003, ''Opportunity'' landed on Mars' Meridiani Planum on January 25, 2004, at 05:05 Ground UTC (about 13:15 Mars local time), three weeks after its twin ''Spirit'' (MER-A), also part of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Mission, touched down on the other side of the planet."Spirit" landed on January 4, 2004. While ''Spirit'' became immobile in 2009 and ceased communications in 2010, ''Opportunity'' exceeded its planned 90 sol (Martian days) duration of activity by 14 years 46 days (in Earth time). ''Opportunity'' continued to move, gather scientific observations, and report back to Earth until 2018. What follows is a summary of events during its continuing mission. ''Opportunity'' started in Eagle crater in 2004, literally landing inside on the crater basin, then it travelled outward making its way to Endurance crater. After this it went to Victoria crater, all the way m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
