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[24.06] Dust and cloud layers observed by SPICAM using stellar occultation technique: Detection of unusually high altitude clouds

F. Montmessin, E. Quemerais, J.-L. Bertaux (Service d'Aeronomie)

Since january 2004, the SPICAM instrument onboard the Mars Express spacecraft has collected several hundreds profiles of the Martian atmosphere using stellar occultation technique. These profiles reflect the vertical distribution of atmospheric components, be it gas or particles, that interfere with the light emitted from a star at UV wavelenghts, the spectral range measured by SPICAM. Several key observations will be presented; profiles collected in the southern winter high latitudes, clouds observed at about 100 km and microphysical properties of some specific detached layers. This work has been funded by CNES, the french spatial agency.

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #3
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.