Superior mirages of simple appearance are occasionally observed over distances exceeding 70 km. These mirages cannot be explained in terms of standard textbook models; rather, they are shown to arise from fairly complex atmospheres. Two observations of different types, observed at Resolute Bay, Canada, are presented. The first is the basic three-image mirage in which one inverted and one erect ...

It is possible to make a consistent story for the origin of Titan's atmosphere starting with the birth of Titan in the Saturn subnebula. If we use comet nuclei as a model, Titan's nitrogen and methane could have easily been delivered by the ice that makes up approximately 50 per cent of its mass. If Titan's atmospheric hydrogen is derived from that ice, it is possible that Titan and comet nucle...

Observations of Neptune with the Kepler Space Telescope yield a 49 day light curve with 98% coverage at a 1 minute cadence. A significant signature in the light curve comes from discrete cloud features. We compare results extracted from the light curve data with contemporaneous disk-resolved imaging of Neptune from the Keck 10-m telescope at 1.65 microns and Hubble Space Telescope visible imagi...

We have entered the phase of extrasolar planets characterization, probing their atmospheres for molecules, constraining their horizontal and vertical temperature profiles and estimating the contribution of clouds and hazes. We report here a short review of the current situation using ground based and space based observations, and present the transmission spectra of HD189733b in the spectral ran...

Solid phase material exists in low density astrophysical environments, from stellar atmospheres to interstellar clouds, from current times to early phases of the universe. We consider the origin, composition and evolution of solid phase materials in the particular case of stellar outer atmospheres, as representative of many conditions. Also considered are the dynamics and interactions in circum...

40% of ultrapure silicon is lost as kerf during slicing to produce wafers. Kerf is currently not being recycled due to engineering challenges and costs associated with removing its abundant impurities. Carbon left behind from the lubricant remains as one of the most difficult contaminants to remove in kerf without significant silicon oxidation. The present work enables to better understand the ...

An exact model is proposed for a gray, isotropically scattering planetary atmosphere in radiative equilibrium. The slab is illuminated on one side by a collimated beam and is bounded on the other side by an emitting and partially reflecting ground. We provide expressions for the incident and reflected fluxes on both boundary surfaces, as well as the temperature of the ground and the temperature...

In seeking to understand the formation of the giant planets and the origin of their atmospheres, the heavy element abundance in well-mixed atmosphere is key. However, clouds come in the way. Thus, composition and condensation are intimately intertwined with the mystery of planetary formation and atmospheric origin. Clouds also provide important clues to dynamical processes in the atmosphere. In...

This paper introduces Gaia theory to the general reader. It provides the necessary background to follow the development of James Lovelock's thinking as he originated the Gaia theory by comparison of the atmospheres around Mars and other planets during his sojourn at NASA. Lynn Margulis' contributions to Gaia are also presented and the bases for her collaboration with Lovelock explored. In addit...