Astrogeology Science Center
Publications
Active neutron interrogation experiments and simulation verification using the SIngle-scintillator Neutron and Gamma-Ray spectrometer (SINGR) for geosciences
We present a new SIngle-scintillator Neutron and Gamma Ray spectrometer (SINGR) instrument for use with both passive and active measurement techniques. Here we discuss the application of SINGR for planetary exploration missions, however, hydrology, nuclear non-proliferation, and resource prospecting are all potential areas where the instrument...
Heffern, Lena E.; Hardgrove, Craig J.; Parsons, Ann; Johnson, E. B.; Starr, R.; Stoddard, G.; Blakeley, R. E.; Prettyman, T.; Gabriel, Travis Saint James; Barnaby, H.; Christian, J.; Unzueta, M.A.; Tate, C.; Martin, A.; Moersch, J. Past, present, and future of Mars Polar Science: Outcomes and outlook from the 7th International Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration
Mars Polar Science is a subfield of Mars science that encompasses all studies of the cryosphere of Mars and its interaction with the Martian environment. Every 4 yr, the community of scientists dedicated to this subfield meets to discuss new findings and debate open issues in the International Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration (...
Becerra, Patricio; Smith, Isaac B.; Hibbard, Shannon M; Andres, Chimira; Bapst, Jonathan; Bramson, Ali; Buhler, Peter; Coronato, Andrea; Diniega, Serina; Emmett, Jeremy; Grau Galofre, Anna; Herny, Clemence; Kahre, Melinda; Knightly, J. Paul; Nerozzi, Stefano; Pascuzzo, Alyssa; Portyankina, Ganna; Rabassa, Jorge; Tamppari, Leslie; Titus, Timothy N.; Whitten, Jennifer L; Yoldi, Zuriñe
Geologic map of the Athabasca Valles region, Mars
This 1:1,000,000-scale geologic map of the Athabasca Valles region of Mars places the best-preserved lavas on Mars into their geologic context. The map shows vigorous geologic activity in the most recent epoch of the geologic history of Mars, which is extremely unusual for the planet. In these atypically youthful terrains, the interpretations of...
Keszthelyi, Laszlo P.; Huff, Alexandra E.; Jaeger, Windy L. A preliminary regional geomorphologic map in Utopia Planitia of the Tianwen-1 Zhurong Landing Region
A geomorphologic map is an important step to understanding the geologic context and history of a site; here, we present an initial geomorphologic map for an area spanning 22°–26°N, 108°–112°E in the Utopia Planitia (UP) region on Mars. This site is of special interest because it contains the May 2021 landing site of the Zhurong rover from Tianwen-...
Mills, Mackenzie M; McEwen, Alfred S.; Okubo, Chris Advancing cave detection using terrain analysis and thermal imagery
Since the initial experiments nearly 50 years ago, techniques for detecting caves using airborne and spacecraft acquired thermal imagery have improved markedly. These advances are largely due to a combination of higher instrument sensitivity, modern computing systems, and processor-intensive analytical techniques. Through applying these...
Wynne, J. Judson; Jenness, Jeff; Sonderegger, Derek; Titus, Timothy N.; Jhabvala, Murzy D.; Cabrol, Nathalie A.
Geologic map of Olympus Mons caldera, Mars
The Mars volcano, Olympus Mons, is probably the best known extraterrestrial volcano. The summit forms a nested caldera with six overlapping collapse pits that collectively measure ~65 x ~80 kilometers (km). Numerous wrinkle ridges and graben occur on the caldera floor, and topographic data indicate >1.2 km of elevation change since the...
Mouginis-Mark, Peter J. Evaluating stereo digital terrain model quality at Mars Rover Landing Sites with HRSC, CTX, and HiRISE Images
We have used high-resolution digital terrain models (DTMs) of two rover landing sites based on mosaicked images from the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera as a reference to evaluate DTMs based on High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) and Context Camera (CTX) images. The Next-Generation Automatic Terrain Extraction (NGATE)...
Kirk, Randolph L.; Mayer, David; Fergason, Robin L.; Redding, Bonnie L.; Galuszka, Donna M.; Hare, Trent M.; Gwinner, Klaus
A geologic field guide to S P Mountain and its lava flow, San Francisco Volcanic Field, Arizona
IntroductionWe created this guide to introduce the user to the San Francisco Volcanic Field as a terrestrial analog site for planetary volcanic processes. For decades, the San Francisco Volcanic Field has been used to teach scientists to recognize the products of common types of volcanic eruptions and associated volcanic features. The volcanic...
Gullikson, Amber L.; Rumpf, M. Elise; Edgar, Lauren A.; Keszthelyi, Laszlo P.; Skinner, James A.; Thompson, Lisa A review of the phyllosilicates in Gale Crater as detected by the CheMin Instrument on the Mars Science Laboratory, Curiosity Rover
Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, landed on Mars in August 2012 to investigate the ~3.5-billion-year-old (Ga) fluvio-lacustrine sedimentary deposits of Aeolis Mons (informally known as Mount Sharp) and the surrounding plains (Aeolis Palus) in Gale crater. After nearly nine years, Curiosity has traversed over 25 km, and the...
Tu, Valerie M.; Rampe, Elizabeth B.; Bristow, Thomas F.; Thorpe, Michael T.; Clark, Joanna V.; Castle, Nicholas; Fraeman, Abigail A.; Edgar, Lauren A.; McAdam, Amy; Bedford, Candice C.; Achilles, Cherie N.; Blake, David; Chipera, Steve J.; Craig, Patricia I.; Des Marais, David J.; Downs, Gordie W.; Downs, Robert T.; Fox, Valerie K.; Grotzinger, John P.; Hazen, Robert M.; Ming, Douglas W.; Morris, Richard V.; Morrison, Shaunna M.; Pavri, Betina; Peretyazhko, Tanya S.; Sarazin, Philippe C.; Sutter, Brad; Treiman, Allan H.; Vaniman, David T.; Yen, Albert S.; Bridges, Jon C.
A numerical model for the cooling of a lava sill with heat pipe effects
Understanding the cooling process of volcanic intrusions into wet sediments is a difficult but important problem, given the presence of extremely large temperature gradients and potentially complex water-magma interactions. This report presents a numerical model to study such interactions, including the effect of heat pipes on the cooling of...
Williams, Kaj E.; Dundas, Colin M.; Kestay, Laszlo P. Brine-driven destruction of clay minerals in Gale crater, Mars
Mars’ sedimentary rock record preserves information on geological (and potential astrobiological) processes that occurred on the planet billions of years ago. The Curiosity rover is exploring the lower reaches of Mount Sharp, in Gale crater on Mars. A traverse from Vera Rubin ridge to Glen Torridon has allowed Curiosity to...
Bristow, T. F.; Grotzinger, John P.; Rampe, E.; Cuadros, J.; Chipera, S. J.; Downs, G.; Fedo, Christopher M.; Frydenvang, Jens; McAdam, A. C.; Morris, R. V.; Achilles, C. N.; Blake, D. F.; Castle, N.; Craig, P.; Des Marais, D. J.; Downs, R. T.; Hazen, R. M.; Ming, D. W.; Morrison, S. M.; Thorpe, M. T.; Treiman, A. H.; Tu, V.; Vaniman, D. T.; Yen, A. S.; Gellert, R.; Mahaffy, P. R.; Wiens, Roger C.; Bryk, A. B.; Bennett, Kristen Alicia; Fox, V. K.; Milliken, R. E.; Fraeman, Abigail A.; Vasavada, A. R. Further adventures in Mars DTM quality: Smoothing errors, sharpening details
We have used high-precision, high-resolution digital terrain models (DTMs) of the NASA Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) and Mars 2020 rover landing sites based on mosaicked images from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (MRO HiRISE) camera as a reference data set to evaluate DTMs based on Mars Express High...
Kirk, Randolph L.; Mayer, David; Redding, Bonnie L.; Galuszka, Donna M.; Fergason, Robin L.; Hare, Trent M.; Gwinner, Klaus