Inon January 21, 2024, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter took these incredible high-resolution images of Mars’s atmosphere. It presented a really amazing phenomenon referred to as the atmospheric mille-feuille. This term captures the exotic ingredients—thin layers cloud and dust—that make up the alluring Martian atmosphere. The images were taken at 07:14:45 UTC, revealing a complex structure that has intrigued scientists studying the planet’s climate and atmospheric composition.
The spacecraft had to navigate through the shadow of Mars. It witnessed a beautiful curtain of dust painted in sunlight at the time of sunset. The orbiter’s lofty perch enabled it to provide stunning details not visible from elsewhere. It allowed to visualize dozens of different layers, between 15 and 55 km high. Each atmospheric slice was 3.6 kilometers wide with a spacing of 200 kilometers in between. Such an orientation gave scientists a unique perspective of the vertical distribution of particles along Mars’s atmosphere.
Insight into Mars’s Atmospheric Structure
The images collected bring us considerable findings on the development of the Martian atmosphere. Below 40 kilometers, the layers probably are made up chiefly of dust that has been scoured off the surface of Mars. In comparison, beyond this altitude, it is more likely that small ice grains are present.
Nicolas Thomas, the Principal Investigator for the CaSSIS camera from the University of Bern, emphasized the importance of these observations. He stated, “The lack of understanding of the vertical distribution of particles in the atmosphere is one of the key questions about the climate of present-day Mars.” These exciting findings add a critical data point that helps improve our understanding of the deep, long-term Martian climate dynamics.
Captured at a spatial resolution of 18m per pixel, the images give the most detailed look yet at Mars’s atmospheric composition. Thomas remarked on the value of this data, saying, “Our observations, especially the color, provide unique insight into the particle radius at each altitude in the atmosphere. Shape and composition could play a role. This stuff is wild.”
Continuous Exploration by ExoMars
The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, which continues to study Mars after reaching its orbit in 2018. It has consistently returned spectacular images that not only depict the planet’s surface but offer a comprehensive inventory of atmospheric gases. The mission’s goals include finding the most water-rich places on Mars and improving science’s understanding of its climate.
Thomas said it’s a great new wealth of information collected that will allow for more detailed analysis moving forward. For Peters, deeper investigations into these atmospheric strata will help scientists move beyond mere observation to predictions of how they interact. This understanding will shed light on their impact to Martian meteorological processes.
The Importance of Atmospheric Studies
The science of Mars’s atmosphere is important for a number of reasons. Learning more about its current-day composition and dynamics sheds light on the planet’s ancient climate and habitability and its potential for supporting life in the future. The atmospheric mille-feuille seen in these photographs is a story worth telling. This might help to surface more interesting hypotheses about how the Martian habitable atmosphere may have evolved over millions of years.
As scientists spend the next few years working to understand these results, they look forward to solving more of Mars’s greatest climatic and geologic mysteries. Scientists collect hundreds of new images and data daily. With every find, they’re one step closer to solving some of the most basic questions about our planetary nextdoor neighbor.