Epifluorescence surveys of extreme environments using PanCam imaging systems: Antarctica and the Mars regolith

• DOI: 10.1117/12.800924
• Publication Date: 2008-08-29T04:01:24Z
• Authors: Michael C. Storri...; Jan-Peter Muller; Martin R. Fisk; Andrew D. Griffiths; Andrew J. Coates; Richard B. Hoover
• Keywords: Regolith; Flavin adenine dinucleotide; Extreme environment

Rapid discovery of the distribution and relative abundance organic material without sample destruction or expenditure irreplaceable resources is one primary requirements for exploration novel extreme environments both in remote locations on Earth Mars regolith. A wide variety biogenic molecular targets including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, amino acids, nucleic photosynthetic pigments, critical metabolic components such as flavin adenine dinucleotide nicotinamide exhibit strong, distinctive fluorescent signatures following excitation by ultraviolet (UV) light sources. These fluorescence are easily imaged with camera systems currently employed rovers imaging equipment available during human robotic Earth. In this paper we discuss recent results epifluorescent biological using filter bands comparable to those ExoMars review plans epifluorescence surveys Dry Valleys Eastern Antarctica Schirmacher Oasis perennially ice-covered, merimictic, oligotrophic Lake Untersee.