Dr. Mark T. Lemmon
| Title | Associate Professor |
| Research Interests | Development and application of cameras for planetary exploration. Aerosols in planetary atmospheres. Atmospheric radiative transfer and numerical studies of light scattering by small particles. |
| Education | Ph.D., Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona |
| Office Location | Room 1205C, O&M Bldg |
| Office Phone | 979-458-8098 |
| Fax | 979-862-4466 |
| lemmon@tamu.edu | |
| Mailing Address |
Department of Atmospheric Sciences Texas A&M University 3150 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-3150 |
Research Interests
I participate in several planetary exploration missions, as well as astronomical observations and theoretical research. I am involved in research on the atmospheres of several planets, but focus most of my attention on Mars and Saturn's moon, Titan.
Mars
My Mars-related work dominates my schedule, and centers on the development and operations of robotic Mars explorers. I currently particpate in day-to-day operations of the Spirit and Opportunity rovers as an active member of the Athena science team. I am also the camera team lead for the 2007 Phoenix lander, and am the Instrument Co-investigator for the Phoenix Surface Stereo Imager. For the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory rover, I am a co-investigator on the MastCam and Descent Imager cameras. My research supported by these mission activities includes the study of the nature and distribution of Martian atmospheric dust, as well as pursuing other scientific opportunities as they become available.
Titan
Titan is a moon with a dense, smoggy, and perhaps sometimes stormy atmosphere. My Titan research is generally aimed at a study of atmospheric aerosols. I use the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), ground-based observatories, and data from past planetary missions as inputs to a modeling effort studying the seasonal changes in startospheric and tropospheric aerosols. In addition, I collaborate with members of the Huygens Probe descent imager team in studying aerosol physical properties.
Other
I work with the TAMU Spacecraft Technology Center on a number of projects. Recently, we unsuccessfully proposed the Lunar Stereo Imager as a camera for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Currently I work with STC on a camera intended to operate on the International Space Station to support Space Shuttle operations.
Selected Publications
Lemmon, M.T., et al. The visible optical depth record of the Mars Exploration Rovers from Ls -30 to 190. J. Geophys. Res., in preparation.
Tomasko, M.G, et al., 2005. Rain, winds, and haze; a close-up view from the descent to Titan's surface. Nature in press.
Bell, J.F., III, M.T. Lemmon, T.C. Duxbury, M.Y.H. Hubbard, M.J. Wolff, S.W. Squyres, L. Craig, and J.M. Ludwinsky, 2005. Solar eclipses of Phobos and Deimos observed from the surface of Mars. Nature 436, 55-57.
Selsis, F., M.T. Lemmon, J. Vaubaillon, J.F. Bell, III, 2005. Extraterrestrial meteors: A Martian meteor and its parent comet. Nature 435, 581.
Lemmon, M.T., M.J. Wolff, M.D. Smith, R.T. Clancy, D. Banfield, G.A. Landis, A. Ghosh, P.H. Smith, N. Spanovich, B. Whitney, P. Whelley, R. Greeley, S. Thompson, J.F. Bell III, S.W. Squyres, 2004. Atmospheric Imaging Results from the Mars Exploration Rovers: Spirit and Opportunity. Science 306, 1753-1756.
Smith, M.D., M.J. Wolff, M.T. Lemmon, N. Spanovich, D. Banfield, C.J. Budney, R.T. Clancy, A. Ghosh, G.A. Landis, P. Smith, B. Whitney, P.R. Christensen, and S.W. Squyres, 2004. First atmospheric science results from the Mars Exploration Rovers Mini-TES. Science 306, 1750-1753.
Bell, J.F., III, et al., 2004. Pancam Multispectral Imaging Results from the Opportunity Rover at Meridiani Planum. Science 306, 1703-1709.
Squyres, S.W., et al., 2004. The Opportunity Rover's Athena Science Investigation at Meridiani Planum, Mars. Science 306, 1698-1703.
Bell, J.F., III, et al., 2004. Pancam Multispectral Imaging Results Spirit Rover at Gusev Crater. Science 305, 800-806.
Squyres, S.W., et al., 2004. The Spirit Rover's Athena Science Investigation at Gusev Crater, Mars. Science 305, 794-799.
Lorenz, R.D., P.H. Smith, and M.T. Lemmon, 2004. Seasonal change in Titan's haze 1992-2002 from Hubble Space Telescope observations. Geophys. Res. Letters 31, L10702.
Ferri, F., P.H. Smith, M.T. Lemmon, and N. Renno, 2003. Dust devils as observed by Mars Pathfinder. J. Geophys. Res. 108, E12.7-1.
Bell, J.F., III, et al., 2003. The Mars Exploration Rover Athena panoramic camera (Pancam) investigation. J. Geophys. Res. 108, 8063.
Johnson, J.R., W.M. Grundy, and M.T. Lemmon 2003. Dust deposition at the Mars Pathfinder landing site: Observations and modeling of near-infrared spectra. Icarus 163, 330-346.
Lemmon, M.T., P.H. Smith, and R.D. Lorenz 2002. Methane abundance on Titan, measured by the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph. Icarus 160, 375-385.
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