Planetary Geoscience

Mars

As the closest habitable planet to Earth, Mars is NASA’s prime target for extraterrestrial geologic investigations.  Several faculty in the UT Earth and Planetary Sciences Department study the geology of Mars, using a wide variety of data types and techniques. 

Profs McSween and Moersch study the composition of the Mars surface through geochemical and spectroscopic investigations.  These investigations provide information on the current make-up and evolutionary history of Mars.  Both of these faculty are co-investigators for the Mars Odyssey spacecraft, which is providing data for mapping the composition of the Martian surface from orbit.  In addition, both Profs McSween and Moersch are co-investigators for the Mars Exploration Rovers, which have been providing a variety of mineralogical and petrologic data from the surface of Mars since 2004.  For some of the spectacular results form this mission, see some of the publications listed on Prof McSween’s or Prof Moersch’s webpages.

Similar information can also be derived from meteorites from Mars.  Profs McSween and Taylor are both involved in laboratory investigations into Martian meteorites.  These investigations provide detailed data for untangling the complex history of Mars.  For more information about these petrologic and geochemical analyses, see some of the publications listed on Prof McSween’s or Prof Taylor’s webpages. 

Other faculty members study the stratigraphy of Mars.  Profs. Fedo and Kah use spacecraft data to investigate the layering found at various locations on the Martian surface (see image at right).  Stratigrapahic analysis of these layers can provide a range of information on the depositional environments, including the history of water on Mars.  In addition to using spacecraft data, Prof Kah also is a member of the Mars Hand Lens Imager on the future Mars Science Laboratory, the next generation of rover headed for Mars.  See Prof Fedo’s and Prof Kah’s websites for more information.

The geomorphology of Mars also provides important clues to the history and evolution of Mars.  Prof Burr has studied a range of aqueous landforms, including outflow flood channels, inverted river channels (see image at left), and ground ice features, in order to better understand the history of water on Mars, and how it has shaped Mars’ surface. See Prof Burr’s webpage for more information.