The DOI matches its Crossref record; 27 of the 27 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
THEMIS observes possible cave skylights on Mars
Open accessAbstract
Seven possible skylight entrances into Martian caves were observed on and around the flanks of Arsia Mons by the Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS). Distinct from impact craters, collapse pits or any other surface feature on Mars, these candidates appear to be deep dark holes at visible wavelengths while infrared observations show their thermal behaviors to be consistent with subsurface materials. Diameters range from 100 m to 225 m, and derived minimum depths range between 68 m and 130 m. Most candidates seem directly related to pit‐craters, and may have formed in a similar manner with overhanging ceilings that remain intact.
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Observations from orbit of Mars revealed that possible cave skylights or lava tubes are not uncommon on the Martian surface.
“Observations from the orbit of Mars revealed that possible cave skylights (Cushing et al. 2007) or lava tubes (Le ´veille ´and Datta 2010) are not uncommon on the Martian surface.”
From Radiation environment for future human exploration on the surface of Mars: the current understanding based on MSL/RAD dose measurements (2021) · cites this paper as Cushing et al. 2007
The Abstract and Introduction report seven possible cave skylights observed from orbit on or near Arsia Mons. They do not establish that such features are not uncommon across the Martian surface; the Observations section says entrances detectable by THEMIS are probably rare. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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Cites
The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) for the Mars 2001 Odyssey Mission
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Guo, J., Zeitlin, C., Wimmer-Schweingruber, R. F., Hassler, D. M., Ehresmann, B., Rafkin, S., Freiherr von Forstner, J. L., Khaksarighiri, S., Liu, W., & Wang, Y. (2021) · The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review · doi:10.1007/s00159-021-00136-5 · Cited by 73
“As the Martian surface contains various natural geological shelters, such as cave skylights (Cushing et al. 2007) and lava tubes (Léveillé and Datta 2010), it is of great interest to assess the feasibility and practicality to use such natural structures for radiation sheltering.”
BackgroundInfluentialDirectionality of the Martian Surface Radiation and Derivation of the Upward Albedo Radiation
Guo, J., Khaksarighiri, S., Wimmer‐Schweingruber, R. F., Hassler, D. M., Ehresmann, B., Zeitlin, C., Löffler, S., Matthiä, D., Berger, T., Reitz, G., et al. (2021) · Geophysical Research Letters · doi:10.1029/2021gl093912 · Cited by 14
“Although this reduction is not significant enough to fully protect future astronauts from cosmic radiation on Mars, it illustrates that existing natural structures such as buttes, cave skylights (Cushing et al., 2007), or lava tubes (Léveillé & Datta, 2010) may serve as a potential radiation shelter for future habitat…”
Background
Metadata
- Authors
- Cushing, G. E., Titus, T. N., Wynne, J. J., & Christensen, P. R.
- Affiliations
- United States Geological Survey (US)
- Northern Arizona University (US)
- Arizona State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Cushing, G. E.
- Venue
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Published
- 2007-09
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 17
- Pages
- 1371
- ISSN
- 0094-8276 (ISSN-L)
- 1944-8007
- OpenAlex
- W2076708908
- Semantic Scholar
- 1ea655a2bfa1536773a09dc484dd2964e9225999
- Cited by
- 167
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 2.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Geophysical Research Letters (publishedVersion)
- Digital Commons - University of South Florida (University of South Florida) (submittedVersion)
- LPI
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Space and Planetary Science › Planetary Science and Exploration
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Space and Planetary Science › Astro and Planetary Science
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Climate change and permafrost
- Keywords
- Arsia Mons, THEMIS, pit craters, subsurface materials, Mars surface features
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