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Publications

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Meter-scale morphology of the north polar region of mars Meter-scale morphology of the north polar region of mars

Mars' north pole is covered by a dome of layered ice deposits. Detailed (∼30 centimeters per pixel) images of this region were obtained with the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). Planum Boreum basal unit scarps reveal cross-bedding and show evidence for recent mass wasting, flow, and debris accumulation. The north polar layers...
Authors
Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, S. Byrne, P.S. Russell, K.E. Fishbaugh, A. S. McEwen

Mars reconnaissance orbiter's high resolution imaging science experiment (HiRISE) Mars reconnaissance orbiter's high resolution imaging science experiment (HiRISE)

The HiRISE camera features a 0.5 m diameter primary mirror, 12 m effective focal length, and a focal plane system that can acquire images containing up to 28 Gb (gigabits) of data in as little as 6 seconds. HiRISE will provide detailed images (0.25 to 1.3 m/pixel) covering ∼1% of the Martian surface during the 2‐year Primary Science Phase (PSP) beginning November 2006. Most images will...
Authors
Alfred S. McEwen, Eric M. Eliason, James W. Bergstrom, Nathan T. Bridges, Candice J. Hansen, W. Alan Delamere, John A. Grant, Virginia C. Gulick, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Randolph L. Kirk, Michael T. Mellon, Steven W. Squyres, Nicolas Thomas, Catherine M. Weitz

Titan's surface from Cassini RADAR SAR and high resolution radiometry data of the first five flybys Titan's surface from Cassini RADAR SAR and high resolution radiometry data of the first five flybys

The first five Titan flybys with Cassini's Synthetic Aperture RADAR (SAR) and radiometer are examined with emphasis on the calibration and interpretation of the high-resolution radiometry data acquired during the SAR mode (SAR-radiometry). Maps of the 2-cm wavelength brightness temperature are obtained coincident with the SAR swath imaging, with spatial resolution approaching 6 km. A...
Authors
F. Paganelli, Michael A. Janssen, B. Stiles, R. West, Ralf D. Lorenz, Jonathan I. Lunine, Stephen D. Wall, Philip S. Callahan, Rosaly Lopes, Ellen R. Stofan, Randolph L. Kirk, W.T.K. Johnson, L. Roth, Charles Elachi

New estimates for Io eruption temperatures: Implications for the interior New estimates for Io eruption temperatures: Implications for the interior

The initial interpretation of Galileo data from Jupiter's moon, Io, suggested eruption temperatures ≥1600°C. Tidal heating models have difficulties explaining Io's prodigious heat flow if the mantle is >1300°C, although we suggest that temperatures up to ~1450°C may be possible. In general, Io eruption temperatures have been overestimated because the incorrect thermal model has been...
Authors
Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Windy L. Jaeger, Moses P. Milazzo, Jani Radebaugh, Ashley G. Davies, Karl L. Mitchell

Cryovolcanic features on Titan's surface as revealed by the Cassini Titan Radar Mapper Cryovolcanic features on Titan's surface as revealed by the Cassini Titan Radar Mapper

The Cassini Titan Radar Mapper obtained Synthetic Aperture Radar images of Titan's surface during four fly-bys during the mission's first year. These images show that Titan's surface is very complex geologically, showing evidence of major planetary geologic processes, including cryovolcanism. This paper discusses the variety of cryovolcanic features identified from SAR images, their...
Authors
Rosaly Lopes, K. L. Mitchell, Ellen R. Stofan, Jonathan I. Lunine, Ralf D. Lorenz, F. Paganelli, Randolph L. Kirk, C. A. Wood, Stephen D. Wall, L.E. Robshaw, A.D. Fortes, Catherine D. Neish, Jani Radebaugh, E. Reffet, S.J. Ostro, Charles Elachi, M.D. Allison, Y. Anderson, R. Boehmer, G. Boubin, Philip S. Callahan, P. Encrenaz, E. Flamini, G. Francescetti, Y. Gim, G. Hamilton, S. Hensley, Michael A. Janssen, W.T.K. Johnson, K. Kelleher, D.O. Muhleman, G. Ori, R. Orosei, G. Picardi, F. Posa, L.E. Roth, R. Seu, S. Shaffer, Laurence A. Soderblom, B. Stiles, S. Vetrella, R.D. West, L. Wye, H. A. Zebker

THEMIS observes possible cave skylights on Mars THEMIS observes possible cave skylights on Mars

Seven possible skylight entrances into Martian caves were observed on and around the flanks of Arsia Mons by the Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS). Distinct from impact craters, collapse pits or any other surface feature on Mars, these candidates appear to be deep dark holes at visible wavelengths while infrared observations show their thermal behaviors to be...
Authors
Glen Cushing, Timothy N. Titus, J. Judson Wynne, P. R. Christensen

A closer look at water-related geologic activity on Mars A closer look at water-related geologic activity on Mars

Water has supposedly marked the surface of Mars and produced characteristic landforms. To understand the history of water on Mars, we take a close look at key locations with the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, reaching fine spatial scales of 25 to 32 centimeters per pixel. Boulders ranging up to ∼2 meters in diameter are ubiquitous in...
Authors
Alfred S. McEwen, C.J. Hansen, W.A. Delamere, E. M. Eliason, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, V. C. Gulick, Randolph L. Kirk, M. T. Mellon, J. A. Grant, N. Thomas, C.M. Weitz, S. W. Squyres, N.T. Bridges, S.L. Murchie, F. Seelos, K. Seelos, C.H. Okubo, M.P. Milazzo, L.L. Tornabene, W.L. Jaeger, S. Byrne, P.S. Russell, J.L. Griffes, S. Martinez-Alonso, A. Davatzes, F. C. Chuang, B.J. Thomson, K.E. Fishbaugh, C. M. Dundas, K.J. Kolb, M. E. Banks, J.J. Wray

Survey of TES high albedo events in Mars' northern polar craters Survey of TES high albedo events in Mars' northern polar craters

Following the work exploring Korolev Crater (Armstrong et al., 2005) for evidence of crater interior ice deposits, we have conducted a survey of Thermal Emission Spectroscopy (TES) temperature and albedo measurements for Mars' northern polar craters larger than 10 km. Specifically, we identify a class of craters that exhibits brightening in their interiors during a solar longitude, Ls...
Authors
J.C. Armstrong, S.K. Nielson, Timothy N. Titus

The lakes and seas of Titan The lakes and seas of Titan

No abstract available.
Authors
Rosaly Lopes, Karl L. Mitchell, Stephen D. Wall, Giuseppe Mitri, Michael Janssen, Steven J. Ostro, Randolph L. Kirk, Alexander G. Hayes, Ellen R. Stofan, Jonathan I. Lunine, Ralph D. Lorenz, Charles Wood, Jani Radebaugh, Philipe Paillou, H. Zebker, Flora Paganelli

The Unified Lunar Control Network 2005 The Unified Lunar Control Network 2005

This report documents a new general unified lunar control network and lunar topographic model based on a combination of Clementine images and a previous network derived from Earth-based & Apollo photographs, and Mariner 10, & Galileo images. This photogrammetric network solution is the largest planetary control network ever completed. It includes the determination of the 3-D positions of...
Authors
Brent A. Archinal, Mark R. Rosiek, Randolph L. Kirk, Bonnie L. Redding

Calibrated Landsat ETM+ nonthermal-band image mosaics of Afghanistan Calibrated Landsat ETM+ nonthermal-band image mosaics of Afghanistan

In 2005, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency contracted with the U.S. Geological Survey to perform assessments of the natural resources within Afghanistan. The assessments concentrate on the resources that are related to the economic development of that country. Therefore, assessments were initiated in oil and gas, coal, mineral...
Authors
Philip A. Davis

Overview of the Opportunity Mars Exploration Rover Mission to Meridiani Planum: Eagle Crater to Purgatory Ripple Overview of the Opportunity Mars Exploration Rover Mission to Meridiani Planum: Eagle Crater to Purgatory Ripple

The Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity touched down at Meridiani Planum in January 2004 and since then has been conducting observations with the Athena science payload. The rover has traversed more than 5 km, carrying out the first outcrop‐scale investigation of sedimentary rocks on Mars. The rocks of Meridiani Planum are sandstones formed by eolian and aqueous reworking of sand grains...
Authors
S. W. Squyres, R. E. Arvidson, D. Bollen, J.F. Bell, J. Bruckner, N.A. Cabrol, W. M. Calvin, M. H. Carr, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, L. Crumpler, D.J. Des Marais, C. D'Uston, T. Economou, J. Farmer, W.H. Farrand, W. Folkner, R. Gellert, T.D. Glotch, M. Golombek, S. Gorevan, J. A. Grant, R. Greeley, J. Grotzinger, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, S. Hviid, J. R. Johnson, G. Klingelhoefer, A.H. Knoll, G. Landis, M. Lemmon, Ron Li, M.B. Madsen, M.C. Malin, S. M. McLennan, H.Y. McSween, D. W. Ming, J. Moersch, R.V. Morris, T. Parker, J. W. Rice, L. Richter, R. Rieder, C. Schroeder, M. Sims, M. Smith, P. Smith, Laurence A. Soderblom, R. Sullivan, N.J. Tosca, H. Wänke, T. Wdowiak, M. Wolff, A. Yen
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