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Unique Spectroscopy and Imaging of Mars with the James Webb Space Telescope
- Source :
- Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 2016, 128 (959), pp.018004. ⟨10.1088/1538-3873/128/959/018004⟩, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 2016, 128 (959), pp.018004. ⟨10.1088/1538-3873/128/959/018004⟩
- Publication Year :
- 2016
- Publisher :
- HAL CCSD, 2016.
-
Abstract
- In this paper, we summarize the main capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) for performing observations of Mars. The distinctive vantage point of JWST at the Sun-Earth Lagrange point (L2) will allow sampling the full observable disk, permitting the study of short-term phenomena, diurnal processes (across the east-west axis), and latitudinal processes between the hemispheres (including seasonal effects) with excellent spatial resolutions (0.''07 at 2 micron). Spectroscopic observations will be achievable in the 0.7-5 micron spectral region with NIRSpec at a maximum resolving power of 2700 and with 8000 in the 1-1.25 micron range. Imaging will be attainable with the Near-Infrared Camera at 4.3 micrometers and with two narrow filters near 2 micron, while the nightside will be accessible with several filters in 0.5 to 2 micron. Such a powerful suite of instruments will be a major asset for the exploration and characterization of Mars. Some science cases include the mapping of the water D/H ratio, investigations of the Martian mesosphere via the characterization of the non-local thermodynamic equilibrium CO2 emission at 4.3 micron, studies of chemical transport via observations of the O2 nightglow at 1.27 micron, high-cadence mapping of the variability dust and water-ice clouds, and sensitive searches for trace species and hydrated features on the Martian surface. In-flight characterization of the instruments may allow for additional science opportunities.
- Subjects :
- Martian
[PHYS]Physics [physics]
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences
James Webb Space Telescope
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Atmosphere of Mars
Spectral bands
Mars Exploration Program
Exploration of Mars
01 natural sciences
Astrobiology
13. Climate action
Space and Planetary Science
Martian surface
0103 physical sciences
[PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]
010303 astronomy & astrophysics
Geology
ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Infrared photography
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00046280 and 15383873
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 2016, 128 (959), pp.018004. ⟨10.1088/1538-3873/128/959/018004⟩, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 2016, 128 (959), pp.018004. ⟨10.1088/1538-3873/128/959/018004⟩
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....754d5c1d9bcff648d5351dffdd10c76d