Explanipedia

Deimos photometric properties: Analysis of 20 years of observations (2004-2024) by the Mars Express HRSC camera Open

Antonin Wargnier, P. A. Simon, S. Fornasier, N. El-Bez-Sebastien, Daniela Tirsch , et al. · 2025

Aims. The goal of this study is to analyze the photometric properties of Deimos using observations obtained by the Mars Express (MEX) mission while aiming to improve the photometric properties and provide new insights into the texture and …

The MMX InfraRed Spectrometer (MIRS) for the spectral characterization of the Martian system Open

M. A. Barucci, Pernelle Bernardi, Jean-Michel Réess, S. Fornasier, F. Merlin , et al. · 2025

To constrains the origin of Phobos and Deimos by MIRS/MMX imaging spectrometer Open

M. A. Barucci, Tomoki Nakamura, S. Fornasier, F. Merlin, Pierre Beck , et al. · 2025

The JAXA MMX (Martian Moon eXploration) mission will be launched in October 2026 to the Martian system to carry out three years observations of the Martian moons, and to bring back to Earth at least 10 g samples from Phobos. The primary go…

Laser and ion irradiations of Ysson basalt to simulate space weathering on Phobos and Deimos Open

G. David, C. Lantz, R. Brunetto, J. Lasue, Quentin Nénon , et al. · 2025

Introduction : The upcoming MMX (Martian Moon eXploration) mission [1] will carry the MIRS instrument (MMX Infrared Spectrometer, [2]) designed to investigate the surface composition of Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos. As airless bodies, th…

Deimos photometric properties from Mars Express HRSC/SRC observations Open

Antonin Wargnier, S. Fornasier, P. A. Simon, N. El-Bez-Sebastien, Daniela Tirsch , et al. · 2025

For more than 21 years, the Mars Express mission (MEx) has been orbiting the Martian system, acquiring data on Mars' surface and atmosphere, as well as on its two moons, Phobos and Deimos. The origin of the Martian moons remains a matter o…

Modelling Martian Moons Surface Temperature – an update Open

Robin Sultana, Koki Yumoto, Antonin Wargnier, C. Leyrat, M. A. Barucci · 2025

IntroductionThe martian moons Phobos and Deimos are the main target of the Martian Moons eXploration mission (MMX). The mission will depart from Earth in October 2026, and arrive around Mars in 2027. Phobos and Deimos orbit Mars at respect…

MIRS/MMX: an imaging spectrometer to observe the Martian aerosols Open

Yann Leseigneur, Gaëlle Le Bail, Thomas Gautier, J. Lasue, Tanguy Bertrand , et al. · 2025

MIRS (MMX InfraRed Spectrometer) is the imaging spectrometer (0.9-3.6 µm) [1] of the JAXA MMX (Martian Moons eXploration) mission [2]. The mission will be launched in 2026 to the Martian system, with an arrival planned in 2027. The mission…

Skin-deep difference between Ryugu and Bennu driven by the microphysical evolution of surface materials Open

Koki Yumoto, Eri Tatsumi, Naoya Sakatani, Rei Kanemaru, Yuichiro Cho , et al. · 2025

IntroductionSamples returned from asteroids Ryugu and Bennu exhibit mineralogical and isotopic similarities to CI carbonaceous chondrites [1–3]. Although CIs are among the leading candidates for delivering the building blocks of life to te…

Phobos 0.4 – 2.5 μm spectral analysis of the red and blue units through the MarsExpress/OMEGA dataset. Open

Joel Beccarelli, M. Pajola, Giovanni Munaretto, Alice Lucchetti, Giovanni Poggiali , et al. · 2025

Introduction. The origin of the Martian moons remains a debated topic within the scientific community. Two leading scenarios are commonly considered: the capture of an asteroidal object [1-2] and a giant impact between proto-Mars and a lar…

The (Infrared) view of Phobos and Deimos, synergy between data from laboratory and remote sensing to understand the enigmatic nature of the Martian moons. Open

Giovanni Poggiali, Andrew Alberini, Antonin Wargnier, Joel Beccarelli, Luca Ruiz Lozano , et al. · 2025

Introduction: Phobos and Deimos importance as scientific target is growing up in the latest years due to an increasing interest in the planetary community on the origin and evolution of the two Martian moons. While the debate over whether …

Surface science on Phobos with the navigation cameras of the MMX IDEFIX rover Open

Pierre Vernazza, Laurent Jorda, Simon Tardivel, Julien Baroukh, O. Groussin , et al. · 2025

IntroductionPhobos, the largest and closest moon to Mars, is the principal target of the Martian Moon eXploration (MMX) JAXA mission, which is scheduled for launch in 2026. The mission will orbit Phobos and perform multiple fly-bys of Deim…

Spectro-photometry of Phobos simulants II. Effects of porosity and texture Open

Antonin Wargnier, Olivier Poch, Giovanni Poggiali, T. N. Gautier, A. Doressoundiram , et al. · 2025

Phobos 0.4–2.5 μm spectral analysis of the red and blue units: Exploiting the Mars Express/OMEGA dataset Open

M. Pajola, Joel Beccarelli, Giovanni Munaretto, Alice Lucchetti, Giovanni Poggiali , et al. · 2025

Aims . We provide a detailed analysis of different Phobos Mars Express/Observatoire pour la Minéralogie, l’Eau, les Glaces et l’Activité (MEX/OMEGA) visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) datacubes to understand the satellite blue-red spectra…

Analysis of a thermal correction method for infrared spectroscopy: preparation for the future observations of the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos with the MIRS instrument Open

G. David, Marco Delbó, M. A. Barucci, F. Merlin, A. A. Fraeman , et al. · 2024

The MIRS (MMX InfraRed Spectrometer) infrared spectrometer is part of the scientific payload of JAXA’s (Japanese Space Agency) Martian Moon eXploration (MMX) mission. From the reflected sunlight by the planetary surfaces, MIRS will provide…

Spectro-photometry of Phobos simulants Open

Antonin Wargnier, T. N. Gautier, A. Doressoundiram, Giovanni Poggiali, Pierre Beck , et al. · 2024

International audience

Linking laboratory and remote sensing investigations: grain size and mineral mixing studies as pivotal tools to interpret solar system exploration. Open

Giovanni Poggiali, Antonin Wargnier, Lara Fossi, Stefano Iannini Lelarge, Joel Beccarelli , et al. · 2024

Introduction: Dark surfaces, such as those found on planets asteroids and other primitive bodies, are the focus of past, present, and future space missions within the Solar System. Understanding the spectroscopic characteristics of t…

Size, albedo and rotational period of the Hayabusa2# target (98943) 2001 CC21 from SPITZER and groundbased observations Open

S. Fornasier, E. Dotto, P. Panuzzo, Marco Delbó, I. N. Belskaya , et al. · 2024

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Hayabusa2 mission, following the successful return of samples of the near-Earth asteroid (NEA, 162173) Ryugu, in December 2020, has been extended to explore two more NEAs. These are (98943) 2…

Data for "Spectro-photometry of Phobos simulants: I. Detectability of hydrated minerals and organic bands" Open

Antonin Wargnier, T. N. Gautier, A. Doressoundiram, Giovanni Poggiali, Pierre Beck , et al. · 2024

Data underlying the paper: "Spectro-photometry of Phobos simulants: I. Detectability of hydrated minerals and organic bands". The dataset contains visible, near-infrared, and mid-infrared spectra of various samples, including phyllosilicat…

Spectro-photometry of Phobos simulants: I. Detectability of hydrated minerals and organic bands Open

Antonin Wargnier, T. N. Gautier, A. Doressoundiram, Giovanni Poggiali, Pierre Beck , et al. · 2024

Previous observations of Phobos and Deimos, the moons of Mars, have improved our understanding of these small bodies. However, their formation and composition remain poorly constrained. Physical and spectral properties suggest that Phobos …

Phobos photometric properties from Mars Express HRSC observations Open

S. Fornasier, Antonin Wargnier, P. H. Hasselmann, Daniela Tirsch, Klaus‐Dieter Matz , et al. · 2024

Aims . This study aims to analyze Phobos’ photometric properties using Mars Express mission observations to support the Martian Moons exploration mission (MMX) devoted to the investigation of the Martian system and to the return of Phobos …

The CNME Project, a National Curation Center for Extraterrestrial Samples in France Open

J. Duprat, J-C. Viennet, Mathieu Roskosz, M. Morand, Silvia Boccato , et al. · 2024

International audience

Grain size effects on the infrared spectrum of mineral mixtures with dark components: New laboratory experiments to interpret low-albedo rocky planetary surfaces Open

Giovanni Poggiali, Lara Fossi, Antonin Wargnier, Joel Beccarelli, J. R. Brucato , et al. · 2024

Context . A number of bodies in the Solar System are characterized by dark surfaces, from carbonaceous asteroids to the enigmatic surface of Phobos and Deimos. Our understanding of the spectroscopic behavior of low-albedo surfaces remains …

Daily temperature changes reveal compositional variation on asteroid (101955) Bennu Open

J. R. Brucato, Giovanni Poggiali, V. E. Hamilton, Salvatore Ferrone, B. E. Clark , et al. · 2023

Carbonaceous rubble pile asteroid 101955 Bennu was observed by the OSIRIS-REx Thermal Emission Spectrometer (OTES) at different times of the day with different surface temperatures. Prior results from OSIRIS-REx revealed that hydrated mine…

Development of a new Phobos spectral simulant: spectral properties from visible to the mid-infrared range Open

Antonin Wargnier, Giovanni Poggiali, A. Doressoundiram, Thomas Gautier, Pierre Beck , et al. · 2023

Phobos is the target of the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX), the next sample return mission of the Japanese space agency (JAXA). The mission will investigate the origin of Phobos and Deimos – the two martian moons, using a suite of dedicat…

Overview of the search for signs of space weathering on the low-albedo asteroid (101955) Bennu Open

B. E. Clark, Antara Sen, Xiao‐Duan Zou, D. N. DellaGiustina, Seiji Sugita , et al. · 2023

International audience

Development of observation strategies from mission design to operations: illustration with Mars moons Explorer infrared spectrometer (MIRS) Open

Éric Sawyer, M. A. Barucci, F. Rocard, S. Fornasier, A. Doressoundiram , et al. · 2023

NEOROCKS project: surface properties of small near-Earth asteroids Open

T. Hromakina, Mirel Birlan, M. A. Barucci, M. Fulchignoni, F. Colas , et al. · 2023

We present new results of the observing program which is a part of the NEOROCKS project aimed to improve knowledge on physical properties of near-Earth Objects (NEOs) for planetary defense. Photometric observations were performed using the…

Laboratory measurements of anhydrous minerals mixed with hyperfine hydrated minerals to support interpretation of infrared reflectance observations of planetary surfaces Open

Giovanni Poggiali, Stefano Iannini Lelarge, J. R. Brucato, M. A. Barucci, Matteo Masotta , et al. · 2023

Identification of water in our Solar System is a key point to understanding the formation and evolution of planetary bodies as well as for astrobiological studies. Scientists identified hydrated minerals as a prime source of H2O in our Sol…

Evaluating possible spectroscopic variation of Bennu’s sampling site Open

A. Praet, Giovanni Poggiali, M. A. Barucci, B. E. Clark, X.-D. Zou , et al. · 2022

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft completed the first part of the primary objective by successfully sampling the surface of asteroid (101955) Bennu and storing the acquired sample in the re-entry capsule. The sampling ‘Touch-And-Go’ (TAG) maneuver…

Updated dataset of NEOs surface colors obtained within the NEOROCKS project Open

T. Hromakina, Mirel Birlan, M. A. Barucci, M. Fulchignoni, F. Colas , et al. · 2022

<p>Near-Earth objects (NEOs) provide us with knowledge regarding the formation and evolution of our solar system. By being in close proximity to Earth, we are able to study the physical parameters of smallest asteroids down to severa…

M. A. Barucci YOU? Author Swipe