The STESSy Group is a research and development team of scientists and engineers based at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía–CSIC (Granada-Spain). It devotes its efforts to develop instruments for the exploration of our Solar System with the aim of obtaining scientific data. The analysis and interpretation of these data allow us to advance in the understanding of the nature of the planets, their satellites, and the small bodies.
Latest news
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A single episode may explain Tempel 1’s smooth terrains
A new study led by Juan Luis Rizos, member of the STESSy group, reveals that a large smooth structure observed on comet 9P/Tempel 1 may have formed as recently as 600 to 1,200 years ago. This timeframe notably coincides with a period of abrupt orbital changes caused by multiple close encounters with Jupiter (Fig. 1),…
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Sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid in Venus clouds, where are they gone?
Venus, often called Earth’s “evil twin,” hosts a thick, cloud-covered atmosphere dominated by carbon dioxide with traces of sulfur dioxide (SO2), water vapor, and other minor species. Its extreme conditions, including crushing pressure, scorching temperatures, and opaque sulfuric acid clouds, make observations challenging. To unravel this atmospheric complexity, members of the STESSy group use the…
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Venus atmosphere: nightglow, global circulation and EnVision mission (ESA-NASA)
The 80–130 km region of Venus’ atmosphere represents a key transition between superrotation and day-to-night circulation, yet remains poorly characterized by observations. Nevertheless, it is possible to study the Venus atmosphere dynamics by analyzing nightglow emissions as O2 and NO. Such emissions occur when atoms carried from the dayside to the nightside by the thermospheric circulation…