Planetary Plot of the Week

Hello! Welcome to the Planetary Plot of the Week. This account is focused on planetary science outreach. Each week we will be tweeting a different figure from an exciting recent paper in planetary science. Follow along with us to learn about current research in the field!

This paper by Mason et al. (@Phliptish @ESEImperial) was published in @jgrplanets on February 22nd, 2024. (2/2) Link: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/20…

Our plot of the week is a diagram depicting the evolution of Atla Regio, an area on Venus known for its large volcanoes. Using Magellan radar data, the authors mapped volcanic and tectonic features, and found evidence for recent geologic activity. (1/2)

This paper by Becker et al. (@NASAJPL ) was published in @jgrplanets on February 8th, 2024. (2/2) Link: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/20…

This week’s figure shows a visible (a) and infrared (b) view of active lava on Jupiter’s moon Io by the Juno spacecraft acquired one year ago. The authors use this data to monitor and link volcanism on Io to tectonic activity. (1/2)

This paper was published in @AAS_PSJ by Beddingfield (@JHUAPL) et al. February 3rd, 2025. (2/2) Link: #psjad9d3ff4" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">iopscience.iop.org/article/10.384…

Our figure of the week depicts a reconstruction of the surface of Ariel, one of Uranus’ moons, from images captured by Voyager 2. The authors propose that the subsurface material emerged from medial grooves, forming new crust and spreading the pre-existing cratered terrain. (1/2)

This paper was published in @Nature by McCoy et al. on January 29th, 2025. (2/2) Link: nature.com/articles/s4158… Follow us on BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/planet…

This week’s figure shows a close-up view of samples returned by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from asteroid Bennu. The authors identify salt in the sample, which could also occur on many astrobiologically relevant bodies in the solar system, including Ceres and Enceladus. (1/2)

Also, we made a BlueSky account! Follow us there: bsky.app/profile/planet…

This paper was published by @Joseph_McNeil et al. (@NHM_London) on Jan. 20th in @NatureGeosci. Link: nature.com/articles/s4156…

This week’s figure shows a km-scale mound in Mawrth Vallis, Mars. Variability in infrared spectral signatures with elevation are used to build a stratigraphic column, which suggests there was a region-wide succession of igneous material followed by extensive aqueous alteration.

This paper was published by Sánchez-Lavega et al. in @jgr-planets on Jan. 1st, 2025 (2/2). Link: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/20…

Our plot of the week shows orbital views of cyclone dust storms near the north polar cap of Mars. The authors investigate how these large-scale atmospheric phenomena could be contributing to periodic oscillations in surface pressure measured by the Perseverance rover (1/2).

This paper was published by Alsaeed (@PlanetaryNoora) et al. in JGR Planets (@jgrplanets) on Dec. 1st, 2024. (2/2) Link: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/20…

The figure for this week shows a polar vortex on Mars during the northern winter solstice. The authors use orbital observations as well as modeling to understand the role polar vortices play in the seasonal variability of the Martian climate. (1/2)

This paper was published by Lemmon et al. in Geophysical Research Letters (@theAGU) on Nov. 29, 2024. Link: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/20…

Our figure for this week is of multiple iridescent clouds captured by the Curiosity rover (@MarsCuriosity) on Mars. These clouds often form near sunset in early autumn, between 50 and 80 km in altitude, and are likely to be carbon dioxide.

This paper was published by Zhang et al. in @Nature on Nov. 9th, 2024. (2/2) Link: nature.com/articles/s4158…

This week, our figure shows the results from Chang’e-6’s sample return of basalts from the lunar farside compared to the nearside lunar cratering chronology. The sample is 2.8 billion years old which is younger than expected but matches well with the predicted dating curve. (1/2)

This paper was published by White et al. (@SETIInstitute) in @IcarusJournal on Oct. 30th, 2024. Link: sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

Our newest plot of the week shows a new classification scheme for large impact features on Ganymede and Callisto. Analysis shows that their shapes are governed by the evolution of a pocket of impact melt, and if they were large enough to penetrate through the icy shell. (1/2)