Color Properties at the Mars InSight Landing Site. Issue 3 (5th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maki, J. N.; Golombek, M.; Banerdt, W.; Smrekar, S.; Deen, R.; Abarca, H.; Lu, S.; Hall, J.
• Is Part Of: Earth and space science. Volume 8:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-03-05
• Subjects: cameras -- color -- landers -- Mars -- planetary exploration -- planetary remote sensing; Space sciences -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 500.5
• DOI: 10.1029/2020EA001336
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2333-5084

Abstract

Abstract: The color properties observed at the InSight landing site by the lander cameras are spectral mixtures of two source materials: gray‐black rocky material with chromaticity values of x = 0.32, y = 0.32 (standard deviations of σ x = 0.02 and σ y = 0.03) and yellowish‐brown dust with chromaticity values of x = 0.42, y = 0.36 (standard deviations of σ x = 0.02 and σ y = 0.03). These results are consistent with published values from other Mars landed missions. The InSight measurements also include the first published value of the white point of Mars daylight, chromaticity of x = 0.35, y = 0.34 (standard deviations of σ x = 0.01 and σ y = 0.02), which is redder than earth daylight by δx = 0.04 and δy = 0.01. InSight measurements also show a small color difference ( δx = 0.02 and δy = 0.01) between the near field terrain (within 20 m of the lander) and the far field area beyond. This color difference is believed to be caused by dust being blown off by near field terrain by the lander rockets during the landing event. The visual difference between these two regions is caused primarily by the brightness variation. Chromaticity measurements of the Martian sky also match previous missions with additional variability caused by differences in dust loading and the dynamic nature of the Martian atmosphere. Plain Language Summary: Calibrated color images acquired at the InSight landing site show colors that fall into two broad categories, dark gray rocky material and yellowish‐brown dust, consistent with previous Mars lander missions. Key Points: InSight color measurements agree with results from Viking, Mars Pathfinder, and the Mars Exploration Rovers Measured color properties are composed of two distinct color endpoints: rocky material that is spectrally flat, and yellowish‐brown dust All observed colors at the landing site are mixtures of these two endpoint members, modified by Mars daylight Measurements of Martian daylight chromaticity show that the color that is slightly redder than Earth daylight (by δx = 0.04 and δy = 0.01)