                         Astronomy Picture of the Day

                         Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! [1] Each day a different image or photograph of our
 fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a
                           professional astronomer.

                                2019 April 22
                        Mars Methane Mystery Deepens
   Video Credit: NASA [2] 's GSFC [3] , Scientific Visualization Studio [4]

Explanation: The methane mystery on Mars just got stranger. New results [5]
from ESA [6]  and Roscosmos [7] ' ExoMars [8] Trace Gas Orbiter [9] , has
unexpectedly  not  detected methane in the atmosphere of Mars [10] . This
result follows the 2013 detection of methane by NASA [11] 's Curiosity rover
[12] , a result seemingly confirmed [13]  by ESA's orbiting Mars [14] Express
[15]  the next day. The issue is so interesting [16]  because life is a major
producer of methane on Earth, leading to intriguing speculation that some sort
of life -- possibly microbial life [17]  -- is creating methane beneath the
surface of Mars [18] . Non-biological sources of methane [19]  are also
possible. Pictured [20] is a visualization of the first claimed methane plume
over Mars as detected from Earth in 2003. The new non-detection of methane by
the ExoMars Orbiter [21]  could mean that Mars has some unexpected way of
destroying methane, or that only some parts of Mars release methane [22]  --
and possibly only at certain times. As the mystery [23]  has now deepened,
humanity's scrutiny [24]  of our neighboring planet [25] 's atmosphere will
deepen as well.

                        Tomorrow's picture: meteor sky

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    Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff [37] (MTU [38] ) & Jerry Bonnell [39]
                                  (UMCP [40] )
          NASA Official:  Phillip Newman Specific rights apply [41] .
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              A service of: ASD [43]  at NASA [44]  / GSFC [45]
                           & Michigan Tech. U. [46]
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Site notes:
  [1] archivepix.html
  [2] https://www.nasa.gov/
  [3] https://www.nasa.gov/goddard
  [4] https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  [5] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1096-4
  [6] https://www.esa.int/ESA
  [7] http://en.roscosmos.ru/119/
  [8]
https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/
ExoMars/What_is_ExoMars
  [9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExoMars_Trace_Gas_Orbiter
  [10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Mars#Methane
  [11] https://www.nasa.gov/
  [12] https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/
  [13]
https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Mars_Express/
Mars_Express_confirms_methane_in_the_Martian_atmosphere
  [14]
https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Mars_Express/The_mission
  [15] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Express
  [16] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/10/science/mars-methane-life.html
  [17]
https://www.whoi.edu/know-your-ocean/ocean-topics/ocean-life/microbial-life/
  [18] https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/mars/overview/
  [19] ap141222.html
  [20] https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3574
  [21] http://exploration.esa.int/mars/46475-trace-gas-orbiter/
  [22] ap090119.html
  [23]
https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/
ExoMars/The_methane_mystery
  [24]
https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/
1952_00129471.jpg?quality=85&w=743
  [25] ap160529.html
  [26] ap190421.html
  [27] archivepix.html
  [28] lib/apsubmit2015.html
  [29] lib/aptree.html
  [30] https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  [31] calendar/allyears.html
  [32] /apod.rss
  [33] lib/edlinks.html
  [34] lib/about_apod.html
  [35] http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=190422
  [36] ap190423.html
  [37] http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  [38] http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  [39] https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  [40] http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  [41] lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  [42] https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  [43] https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  [44] https://www.nasa.gov/
  [45] https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  [46] http://www.mtu.edu/
