MOON MARS EARTH (VREDEFORT CRATER) CONCISE ATLAS ON THE SOLAR SYSTEM (6): ATLAS OF MICROENVIRONMENTS SZANISZLÓ BÉRCZI, HENRIK HARGITAI, ERZSÉBET ILLÉS, ÁKOS KERESZTURI, ANDRÁS SIK, TIVADAR FÖLDI, SÁNDOR HEGYI, ZSOLT KOVÁCS, MÁRIA MÖRTL, TAMÁS WEIDINGER OF PLANETARY SURFACES Eötvös Loránd University, Cosmic Materials Space Research Group, UNICONSTANT BudapestPüspökladány, 2004 VENUS SZANISZLÓ BÉRCZI, HENRIK HARGITAI, and gets evaporated later. We can observe many associate phenomena in initiatives and by a joint effort of several people of various background. ERZSÉBET ILLÉS, ÁKOS KERESZTURI, ANDRÁS SIK, the deserts of Mars and Earth. The complexity of the activity calls for many of the resources of the par- TIVADAR FÖLDI, SÁNDOR HEGYI, ZSOLT KOVÁCS, Yet another category of phenomena can be formed according to the ticipants. A natural coherence is established among the participants all MÁRIA MÖRTL, TAMÁS WEIDINGER effects of radiation. Such associated phenomena include the reflected through the experiment. This complexity and the need for many skills of light from sunshine, thermal emission of rocks and soil, effects of gases the individual are among the factors which make the space research Concise Atlas on the Solar System (6): getting warmed close to the soil. By cumulating the information exciting and attractive. It is fascinating how one can imagine oneself ATLAS OF MICRO ENVIRONMENTS obtained from more and more measurements and observations we estab- into the real processes by being an active participant of various mis- OF PLANETARY SURFACES lish an increasingly deep knowledge on the microenvironment of the sions. Such works establish an intimate relationship among the human planet around a spacecraft. personality and the knowledge, thinking and the objective of the activ- Eötvös Loránd University, Cosmic Materials Space Research Group; As a next step, it could be a very exciting exercise to study all of ities. By releasing this 6th volume of the Concise Atlas (2nd volume in Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Geonomy Committee, Budapest, 2004 those phenomena at a selected microenvironment on Earth. For example English) we urge the reader to consider these ideas while studying the we can study the saline soil in Hortobágy, Hungary, including the scarce micro environments of planets, and to participate in the measurements Landscapes of the Moon are already well known, and we can also vegetation, the rail, water courses, or we can observe the sand dunes of and activities so that he/she would be able to contribute to the forth- imagine the surfaces of other planets around us. The microenvironment the region Kiskunság, Hungary, how the wind established the various coming volumes of the concise atlas series with her/his experimental is understood to be the landscape around a standing person. The first shapes, barks, warming of the air close to the surface, etc. The partial ideas. space probes landing smoothly on the surface of Moon and Mars had results are again assembled to form an overall picture, and at the same We wish you good work and pleasant time reading through the atlas sizes comparable to that of a person. The probes operated analogously time, the investigation can be conducted in a way that the various dealing with the micro environment of the planets. to a living person; looked around the landscape, with extended arms aspects are compared from time to time to the microenvironment of The Authors they shifted through the surface sand. The idea of producing a concise another planet. In the 21st century the comparative planetology will be atlas on microenvironment was conceived by this possibility of looking a science which provides objectives and exciting scenery for reprocess- CONTENTS around on the surface of planets. ing, reviewing categorising and systematising scientific knowledge. Introduction (Sz. B.) 2 In addition to the operation just looking around, the various space Such rethinking is driven by the objectives and by various projects. I. First look after landing: a rocky desert (Sz. B.) 4 probes (Surveyor, Luna, Lunakhod, Viking, as well as Pathfinder on the Nowadays, one of the most important questions to be answered regard- II. Close up view of the desert and rock surfaces (Sz. B. - A. S) 6 Mars) executed measurements as well. Researchers collected the most ing the teaching of natural sciences is why we have to study the various III. Characteristics of debris material (A. S.) 8 important information by means of measurements and analysis. It is principles at all. IV. Landing on Venus (E. I. - H. H.) 10 possible to enrich and to rediscover this treasury of knowledge by com- Now we extend the circle of activities by deploying a home made root V. Observation of impacts on a planetary surface (E. I. - H. H.)12 VI. Martian surface formed by water (Á. K.) 16 paring the microenvironments of the surfaces of the four best investi- in the terrestrial environment. This is the Hunveyor (Hungarian VII. Manned landing on the Moon (H. H.) 18 gated planets, i.e. those of Earth, Moon, Mars and Venus. The lunar University Surveyor) experimental educational space probe model, VIII. Micro-meteorological measurements environment has a particular significance, because man actually land- where measuring instruments and systems are attached to carry out on Earth and Mars (T. W. - Sz. B.) 22 ed on the Moon following the survey by robots. In this way the micro experiments planned for the planetary surfaces. It is well known from IX. Electrostatic phenomena in thin atmosphere (T. F. - Sz. B.) 24 environments of Moon and Earth can also be compared in the aspects of the actual space missions, that a small mobile companion is also used X. Chemical composition of the atmosphere (M. M. - Sz. B.) 26 personal observations and activities in addition to the results of instru- in association with the spacecraft landing on the planet. In this case the XI. Biological measurements by the Viking space probes (A. S.) 28 mental measurements. On the basis of such comparison it is also possi- mobile unit is a rover called Husar (Hungarian University Surface Tables (E.I., H.H.), References 30 ble to imagine and plan potential tasks of astronauts who are going to Analyser Rover). This is suitable to get close to the various objects of the land on Mars. micro environment for performing on site measurements. In order to Published by Eötvös Loránd University Cosmic Materials Space Research Nevertheless, our main objective by issuing this concise atlas was to actually produce the robots it is necessary to utilise technological Group and UNICONSTANT, Püspökladány, Honvéd u. 3. Supported by Hungarian Space Office grant No TP-154/2003. provide aspect for the observation of the environment as a whole. processes, information technology and engineering knowledge. Certain CONCISE ATLAS ON THE SOLAR SYSTEM (6): Various processes take place in the environment, and such observations portions of the micro environments can be modelled also on the labora- ATLAS OF MICROENVIRONMENTS OF PLANETARY SURFACES give us the opportunity to test how we can utilise our knowledge in a tory test-table. In this way the investigation of the micro environment English translation © Sándor Kabai, 2004 new environment. The various processes can be observed also separate- leads us to the utilisation of the modern technologies also used by vari- Text Copyright © Szaniszló Bérczi, Henrik Hargitai, ly, but groups may also be established from associated processes. For ous museums. For this purpose a number of simulators can be deployed Erzsébet Illés, Ákos Kereszturi, András Sik, example the phenomena associated with the atmosphere are closely in a room (ground based control centre), and the visitors can walk into Tivadar Földi, Sándor Hegyi, Zsolt Kovács, related (think of a meteorological measuring station). The geological another room where works to be done on the surface of planets (in space Mária Mörtl, Tamás Weidinger, 2004 and geographical phenomena which can be observed around a space- suits) are exhibited (space simulators). As a result, the visitor is not just All rights reserved. For permission to reproduce texts or illustrations appearing in this textbook please correspond directly with the authors of the given chap- craft on the soil and on the rocks are also closely associated. The wind a passive observer, but could become an active participant of the ters. Uncredited illustrations are either public domain NASA photographs or carries dust, the dust hit the rocks and regularly shave the surface of the process. The Concise Atlas is also a significant contribution in intro- photographs / illustrations created by the authors. rock. Then the dust settles, and again becomes airborne as a result of ducing the results of space research. ISBN 963 00 6314 XÖ the wind. If precipitation occurs on the planet, then it covers the dust, The most exciting human activities are characterised by personal 963 86401 6 2 2 ATLAS OF MICROENVIRONMENTS SZANISZLÓ BÉRCZI, HENRIK HARGITAI, ERZSÉBET ILLÉS, ÁKOS KERESZTURI, ANDRÁS SIK, PLANETARY SURFACES TIVADAR FÖLDI, SÁNDOR HEGYI, ZSOLT KOVÁCS, MÁRIA MÖRTL, TAMÁS WEIDINGER OF Eötvös Loránd University, Cosmic Materials Space Research Group, UNICONSTANT BudapestPüspökladány, 2004 3 I. FIRST LOOKING AROUND AFTER LANDING: It is worthwhile to interpret the landscape around Surveyor-7 in settles all over the surface without hindrance. On Mars the boul- A ROCKY DESERT comparison with the Martian scenery seen by Pathfinder. One can ders were carried to their present locations by surging water. In see on the picture shown on the right that the boulders are not as fre- this process the pieces of rocks became rounded as a result of 1.1 Surveyor-7 on the Moon at the Tycho crater quent as on the Martian surface. The broken surfaces of the rocks in friction and collision. When the velocity of the water subsides the the Moon are sharp, while they are mostly rounded in Mars.