Featured
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News |
NASA mission set to orbit Mercury
The planet's shadowy craters, tenuous atmosphere and iron core are targets of the MESSENGER probe.
- Adam Mann
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Books & Arts |
Astronomy: Martian illusions
The Mars canal controversy is a reminder to be cautious when interpreting alien worlds, notes Michael Carr.
- Michael Carr
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News |
Venus miss is a setback for Japanese programme
Akatsuki mission on hold for six years before next attempt to approach planet.
- David Cyranoski
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News |
False dawn for Japan's Venus mission
Akatsuki probe will have to survive for six more years to get a second chance of orbit.
- David Cyranoski
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Letter |
Onset and migration of spiral troughs on Mars revealed by orbital radar
A pinwheel array of deep troughs has been one of the most perplexing features of the north polar layered deposits on Mars. Many ideas have been put forward about how it formed, but there is as yet no consensus. Here, penetrating radar has been used to rule out erosional cutting as a mechanism for the formation of the array. Instead, it is concluded that the troughs are largely depositional in origin, and have migrated to the poles and upwards in elevation over the past two million years or so.
- Isaac B. Smith
- & John W. Holt
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Letter |
The construction of Chasma Boreale on Mars
The Chasma Boreale is a large canyon — 500 km long, up to 100 km wide, and nearly 2 km deep — that cuts into the north polar layered deposits on Mars. Quite how it formed has been unclear. However, new penetrating radar imagery has now been used to show that depositional processes, rather than catastrophic events, were responsible.
- J. W. Holt
- , K. E. Fishbaugh
- & R. J. Phillips
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Research Highlights |
Planetary science: Venus vents
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News |
Japan prepares for Venus countdown
Akatsuki probe could help to explain why Venus is so different from Earth.
- David Cyranoski
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News Feature |
Planetary science: A whiff of mystery on Mars
The surprising discovery of methane in Mars's atmosphere could be a sign of life there. Researchers are now working out how to find its source, reports Katharine Sanderson.
- Katharine Sanderson
Hf–W–Th evidence for rapid growth of Mars and its status as a planetary embryo
Spring awakening planned for Mars rover Spirit