A map of D/H on Mars using high-resolution spectroscopy with EXES aboard SOFIA

Thérèse Encrenaz (1) , M. Richter (2) , C. Dewitt (2) , T. Greathouse (3) , T. Fouchet (1) , Franck Montmessin (4) , Franck Lefèvre (4) , B. Bézard (1) , S. Atreya (5) , M. Case (2) , N. Ryde (6)

1 LESIA - Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique
2 UC Davis - University of California [Davis]
3 SwRI - Southwest Research Institute [San Antonio]
4 PLANETO - LATMOS
5 AOSS - Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences [Ann Arbor]
6 Lund Observatory

We have obtained a map of D/H on Mars on April 8, 2014, when the planet was close to opposition (15.3” in diameter) and close to northern summer solstice (Ls = 113°). Data were recorded with the EXES (Echelon Cross Echelle Spectrograph) imaging spectrometer aboard the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). A preliminary reduction indicates an increase of the D/H ratio from south to north, with a disk-integrated value of about 6.5 times the terrestrial value.

Domains: Sciences of the Universe [physics]; Astrophysics [astro-ph]; Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP]; Sciences of the Universe [physics]; Astrophysics [astro-ph]; Solar and Stellar Astrophysics [astro-ph.SR]

Thérèse Encrenaz, M. Richter, C. Dewitt, T. Greathouse, T. Fouchet, et al.. A map of D/H on Mars using high-resolution spectroscopy with EXES aboard SOFIA. European Planetary Science Congress 2015, Sep 2015, Nantes, France. pp.EPSC2015-110. ⟨insu-01214342⟩