Publications
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CO2 jets formed by sublimation beneath translucent slab ice in Mars' seasonal south polar ice cap CO2 jets formed by sublimation beneath translucent slab ice in Mars' seasonal south polar ice cap
The martian polar caps are among the most dynamic regions on Mars, growing substantially in winter as a significant fraction of the atmosphere freezes out in the form of CO2 ice. Unusual dark spots, fans and blotches form as the south-polar seasonal CO2 ice cap retreats during spring and summer. Small radial channel networks are often associated with the location of spots once the ice...
Authors
Hugh H. Kieffer, Phillip R. Christensen, Timothy N. Titus
Titan Radar Mapper observations from Cassini's T3 fly-by Titan Radar Mapper observations from Cassini's T3 fly-by
Cassini's Titan Radar Mapper imaged the surface of Saturn's moon Titan on its February 2005 fly-by (denoted T3), collecting high-resolution synthetic-aperture radar and larger-scale radiometry and scatterometry data. These data provide the first definitive identification of impact craters on the surface of Titan, networks of fluvial channels and surficial dark streaks that may be...
Authors
C. Elachi, S. Wall, M. Janssen, E. Stofan, R. Lopes, Randolph L. Kirk, R. Lorenz, J. Lunine, F. Paganelli, Laurence A. Soderblom, C. Wood, L. Wye, H. Zebker, Y. Anderson, S. Ostro, M. Allison, R. Boehmer, P. Callahan, P. Encrenaz, E. Flamini, G. Francescetti, Y. Gim, G. Hamilton, S. Hensley, W. Johnson, K. Kelleher, D. Muhleman, G. Picardi, F. Posa, L. Roth, R. Seu, S. Shaffer, B. Stiles, S. Vetrella, R. West
Two years at Meridiani Planum: Results from the Opportunity Rover Two years at Meridiani Planum: Results from the Opportunity Rover
The Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has spent more than 2 years exploring Meridiani Planum, traveling ∼8 kilometers and detecting features that reveal ancient environmental conditions. These include well-developed festoon (trough) cross-lamination formed in flowing liquid water, strata with smaller and more abundant hematite-rich concretions than those seen previously, possible relict...
Authors
S. W. Squyres, A.H. Knoll, R. E. Arvidson, B. C. Clark, J.P. Grotzinger, B.L. Jolliff, S. M. McLennan, N. Tosca, J.F. Bell, W. M. Calvin, W. H. Farrand, T.D. Glotch, M.P. Golombek, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J. R. Johnson, G. Klingelhofer, H.Y. McSween, A. S. Yen
The heartbeat of the volcano: The discovery of episodic activity at Prometheus on Io The heartbeat of the volcano: The discovery of episodic activity at Prometheus on Io
The temporal signature of thermal emission from a volcano is a valuable clue to the processes taking place both at and beneath the surface. The Galileo Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (NIMS) observed the volcano Prometheus, on the jovian moon Io, on multiple occasions between 1996 and 2002. The 5 micron (μm) brightness of this volcano shows considerable variation from orbit to orbit...
Authors
Ashley G. Davies, Lionel Wilson, Dennis Matson, Giovanni Leone, Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Windy L. Jaeger
Sedimentary textures formed by aqueous processes, Erebus crater Meridiani Planum, Mars Sedimentary textures formed by aqueous processes, Erebus crater Meridiani Planum, Mars
New observations at Erebus crater (Olympia outcrop) by the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity between sols 671 and 735 (a sol is a martian day) indicate that a diverse suite of primary and penecontemporaneous sedimentary structures is preserved in sulfate-rich bedrock. Centimeter-scale trough (festoon) cross-lamination is abundant, and is better expressed and thicker than previously...
Authors
J. Grotzinger, J. Bell, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J. Johnson, A. Knoll, E. McCartney, S. McLennan, J. Metz, Jeff Moore, S. Squyres, R. Sullivan, O. Ahronson, R. Arvidson, B. Joliff, M. Golombek, K. Lewis, T. Parker, J. Soderblom
USGS Magellan stereomapping of Venus USGS Magellan stereomapping of Venus
This paper describes our methods for generating high resolution Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) of Venus using Magellan synthetic aperture radar (SAR) stereoimages, and the sensor model we developed for Magellan stereomapping on our digital photogrammetric workstation running SOCET SET (® BAE SYSTEMS). In addition to demonstrating the validity of our sensor model and procedures we use for...
Authors
Elpitha Howington-Kraus, Randolph L. Kirk, Donna M. Galuszka, Bonnie L. Redding
Derivation of planetary topography using multi-image shape-from-shading Derivation of planetary topography using multi-image shape-from-shading
In many cases, the derivation of high-resolution digital terrain models (DTMs) from planetary surfaces using conventional digital image matching is a problem. The matching methods need at least one stereo pair of images with sufficient texture. However, many space missions provide only a few stereo images and planetary surfaces often possess insufficient texture. This paper describes a...
Authors
Volker Lohse, Christian Heipke, Randolph L. Kirk
Nature and origin of the hematite-bearing plains of Terra Meridiani based on analyses of orbital and Mars Exploration rover data sets Nature and origin of the hematite-bearing plains of Terra Meridiani based on analyses of orbital and Mars Exploration rover data sets
The ∼5 km of traverses and observations completed by the Opportunity rover from Endurance crater to the Fruitbasket outcrop show that the Meridiani plains consist of sulfate‐rich sedimentary rocks that are largely covered by poorly‐sorted basaltic aeolian sands and a lag of granule‐sized hematitic concretions. Orbital reflectance spectra obtained by Mars Express OMEGA over this region...
Authors
R. E. Arvidson, F. Poulet, R.V. Morris, J.-P. Bibring, J.F. Bell, S. W. Squyres, P. R. Christensen, G. Bellucci, B. Gondet, B.L. Ehlmann, W. H. Farrand, R.L. Fergason, M. Golombeck, J.L. Griffes, J. Grotzinger, E.A. Guinness, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J. R. Johnson, G. Klingelhofer, Y. Langevin, D. Ming, K. Seelos, R.J. Sullivan, J.G. Ward, S.M. Wiseman, M.J. Wolff
Aqueous processes at Gusev crater inferred from physical properties of rocks and soils along the Spirit traverse Aqueous processes at Gusev crater inferred from physical properties of rocks and soils along the Spirit traverse
Gusev crater was selected as the landing site for Spirit on the basis of morphological evidence of long-lasting water activity, including possibly fluvial and lacustrine episodes. From the Columbia Memorial Station to the Columbia Hills, Spirit's traverse provides a journey back in time, from relatively recent volcanic plains showing little evidence for aqueous processes up to the older...
Authors
N.A. Cabrol, J.D. Farmer, E.A. Grin, L. Ritcher, L. Soderblom, R. Li, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, G. A. Landis, R. E. Arvidson
Mapping of Titan: Results from the first Titan radar passes Mapping of Titan: Results from the first Titan radar passes
The first two swaths collected by Cassini's Titan Radar Mapper were obtained in October of 2004 (Ta) and February of 2005 (T3). The Ta swath provides evidence for cryovolcanic processes, the possible occurrence of fluvial channels and lakes, and some tectonic activity. The T3 swath has extensive areas of dunes and two large impact craters. We interpret the brightness variations in much...
Authors
E. R. Stofan, J. I. Lunine, R. Lopes, F. Paganelli, R. D. Lorenz, C. A. Wood, Randolph L. Kirk, S. Wall, C. Elachi, Laurence A. Soderblom, S. Ostro, M. Janssen, J. Radebaugh, L. Wye, H. Zebker, Y. Anderson, M. Allison, R. Boehmer, P. Callahan, P. Encrenaz, E. Flamini, G. Francescetti, Y. Gim, G. Hamilton, S. Hensley, W.T.K. Johnson, K. Kelleher, D. Muhleman, G. Picardi, F. Posa, L. Roth, R. Seu, S. Shaffer, B. Stiles, S. Vetrella, R. West
Bedrock formation at Meridiani Planum Bedrock formation at Meridiani Planum
The Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity discovered sulphate-rich sedimentary rocks at Meridiani Planum on Mars, which are interpreted by McCollom and Hynek as altered volcanic rocks. However, their conclusions are derived from an incorrect representation of our depositional model, which is upheld by more recent Rover data. We contend that all the available data still support an aeolian...
Authors
S. W. Squyres, O. Aharonson, R. E. Arvidson, J.F. Bell, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, J.A. Crisp, W. Farrand, T. Glotch, M.P. Golombek, J. Grant, J. Grotzinger, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J. R. Johnson, B.L. Jolliff, A.H. Knoll, S. M. McLennan, H.Y. McSween, Johnnie N. Moore, J. W. Rice, N. Tosca
Petrogenesis of the Apollo 14 high-alumina basalts: Implications from ion microprobe analyses Petrogenesis of the Apollo 14 high-alumina basalts: Implications from ion microprobe analyses
In this study, ion microprobe analyses of individual minerals are used to investigate the petrogenesis of the Apollo 14 high-Al basalts. We use trace element concentrations from individual minerals in the Apollo 14 high-Al basalts to evaluate both endogenic and exogenic models. The data show that if the Apollo 14 high-Al basalts were produced by melting within the lunar mantle, these...
Authors
Justin Hagerty, Charles K. Shearer, James J. Papike