HR: 0800h
AN: P21A-0200 [Abstracts]
TI: Magnetic properties of dust on Mars - Results from the Mars Exploration Rovers
AU: * Leer, K
EM: kristofferleer@tdcadsl.dk
AF: Center for Planetary Science, Niels Bohr Institute for Astronomy, Physics and Geophysics and the Danish
Space Research Institute, Juliane Mariesvej 30, Copenhagen, 2100
Denmark
AU: Hjollum, J i
EM: jari@hjollum.com
AF: Center for Planetary Science, Niels Bohr Institute for Astronomy, Physics and Geophysics and the Danish
Space Research Institute, Juliane Mariesvej 30, Copenhagen, 2100
Denmark
AU: Bertelsen, P
EM: preben@fys.ku.dk
AF: Center for Planetary Science, Niels Bohr Institute for Astronomy, Physics and Geophysics and the Danish
Space Research Institute, Juliane Mariesvej 30, Copenhagen, 2100
Denmark
AU: Goetz, W
EM: goetz@linmpi.mpg.de
AF: Max Planck Institt fr Sonnensystemforschung, Max-Planck-Str. 2, Katlenburg-Lindau, 37191
Germany
AU: Kinch, K
EM: kjartan@phys.au.dk>
AF: Institute for Physics and Astronomy, Ny Munkegade, Bygn. 520, Aarhus, 8000
Denmark
AU: Hviid, S F
EM: hviid@linmpi.mpg.de>
AF: Max Planck Institt fr Sonnensystemforschung, Max-Planck-Str. 2, Katlenburg-Lindau, 37191
Germany
AU: Knudsen, J
EM: knudsen@fys.ku.dk
AF: Center for Planetary Science, Niels Bohr Institute for Astronomy, Physics and Geophysics and the Danish
Space Research Institute, Juliane Mariesvej 30, Copenhagen, 2100
Denmark
AU: Madsen, M
EM: mbmadsen@fys.ku.
AF: Center for Planetary Science, Niels Bohr Institute for Astronomy, Physics and Geophysics and the Danish
Space Research Institute, Juliane Mariesvej 30, Copenhagen, 2100
Denmark
AB:
Results from the "Magnetic Properties Experiments" onboard the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity will be
presented. Each rover carries seven magnets for detailed investigation of the magnetic properties of airborne dust and rocks
on Mars, each magnet with a specific scientific purpose.
The ring shaped sweep magnet has attracted airborne dust and the results from analysis of Pancam images from both rovers show
that essentially all the dust suspended in the Martian atmosphere is somewhat magnetic in the sense that the particles are
attracted to permanent magnets.
The capture and filter magnet are designed so that the capture magnet is as strong as possible, and therefore has attracted
all magnetic dust particles within its reach, while the filter magnet is designed to preferentially attract the more strongly
magnetic dust particles. Differences in reflectivity spectra from these two magnets as observed by Pancam show that the
filter magnet have succeded in picking out a more magnetic fraction of the airborne particles on both rovers. This provides
interesting samples for further studies by the Microscopic Imager, the APX spectrometer and the Mssbauer spectrometer.
The four RAT magnets, placed in the Rock Abrasion Tool, provide information about the magnetic material present within the
rocks. There are three different RAT magnets; two of the four magnets (#1) are identical and very strong. These magnets are
designed to attract all magnetic particles from the grinding process that happen to come close to this magnet, while the two
other RAT magnets (#2 and #3) are different and designed - as the filter magnet - to different degrees to attract and hold
preferentially the more strongly magnetic particles liberated by the grinding process.
DE: 5440 Magnetic fields and magnetism
DE: 6225 Mars
DE: 6297 Instruments and techniques
DE: 1519 Magnetic mineralogy and petrology
DE: 1540 Rock and mineral magnetism
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting