Planet Four Talk

Bluish-grey substance spotted around fan

  • astronomer4242 by astronomer4242

    I noticed that the fan located to the center and left has a bluish-grey substance at the edges. Can anyone identify this substance?

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  • p.titchin by p.titchin

    Hi , 'astronomer', (nice handle, 😃). I'm sure the science team will answer you, but in the meantime, this is a difference in light refraction when CO2 ice is blasted out early in the spring sublimation process, before the ongoing venting erodes the 'grust' surface, and the surface material is vented as well, giving the more usual dark fans and blotches. Here are 2 stunning images to look at of this effect. Just click on the links. APF0000wzs , and APF0000no6 . Enjoy. 😃 ~pete

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  • mschwamb by mschwamb scientist, translator in response to astronomer4242's comment.

    Hi,

    Pete gives a great introduction to one of the methods causing the blue, the frost scenario. It could also be the fan particles sinking into the ice and then melting the ice which recrystallizes differently and that chance in ice crystal structure causes the sunlight to reflect and refract differently through it causing a color change. A more detailed explanation by Michael, another science team member, can be found here

    Cheers,

    ~Meg

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