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Laszlo Kestay, Ph.D.

Laszlo Kestay is a planetary volcanologist at the US Geological Survey's Astrogeology Science Center.

Laszlo Kestay is a planetary volcanologist working for the US Geological Survey's Astrogeology Science Center. His last name was formerly Keszthelyi and this spelling is still used for his publications. He has worked for the USGS since 1991 but was only hired in 2003. He is member of the NASA MRO HiRISE and ESA ExoMars CaSSIS science teams.

Professional Experience

  • 2003-present, Research Geologist, Astrogeology Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey.  Studying volcanism across the Solar System with remote sensing, numerical modeling, and field studies. Involved in assessing natural resources across the Solar System and the hazards posed by meteorite impacts.

  • 2012-2018, Science Center Director, Astrogeology Science Center U.S. Geological Survey.  Manage the science center as it enables humankind's exploration of the Solar System with support for space missions from conception to beyond the grave.  

  • 2011, Associate Science Center Director for Technical Operations, Astrogeology Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey.  Overseeing the technical activities (cartography, software development, computer science, data archival, etc.) in the Astrogeology Science Center.

  • 2004-2007, Assistant Team Chief Scientist

  • 1994-1996, NSF Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Hawaii at Manoa and U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.   Supervisor: Stephen Self

Education and Certifications

  • B.S., Mathematics, Summa Cum Laude, 1987, The University of Texas at Austin

  • B.S. with Honors, Geological Sciences (Geophysics Option), Summa Cum Laude, 1988, The University of Texas at Austin

  • M.S., Planetary Science, 1993, Caltech

  • Ph.D., Geology, 1994, Caltech. Thesis: On the Thermal Budget of Pahoehoe Lava Flows,   Advisor: Bruce C. Murray

Science and Products

link
Olympus Mons taken by Viking Orbit

Planetary Volcanology

The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on planetary volcanology. Volcanism is a key part of the chemical and thermal evolution of planetary bodies, and volcanic eruptions are one of the fundamental processes that create and alter the surface of planetary bodies. We often study volcanoes on Earth in order to better understand eruptions across the Solar System, but we also bring...
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center
link

Planetary Volcanology

The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on planetary volcanology. Volcanism is a key part of the chemical and thermal evolution of planetary bodies, and volcanic eruptions are one of the fundamental processes that create and alter the surface of planetary bodies. We often study volcanoes on Earth in order to better understand eruptions across the Solar System, but we also bring...
Learn More
link
SP Crater Arizona

Terrestrial Analogs for Research and Geologic Exploration Training (TARGET)​

The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Science Center (ASC) recently established the Terrestrial Analogs for Research and Geologic Exploration Training (TARGET) program. This service-oriented program is built around the recognition that the Earth is a fundamental training ground for human and robotic planetary exploration, and that ASC is in a unique position in northern Arizona with...
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center, Planetary Geologic Mapping
link

Terrestrial Analogs for Research and Geologic Exploration Training (TARGET)​

The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Science Center (ASC) recently established the Terrestrial Analogs for Research and Geologic Exploration Training (TARGET) program. This service-oriented program is built around the recognition that the Earth is a fundamental training ground for human and robotic planetary exploration, and that ASC is in a unique position in northern Arizona with...
Learn More

Sensor Data from Monitoring the Cooling of the 2014-2015 Lava Flow and Hydrothermal System at Holuhraun, Iceland

This data release is a companion to Dundas et al., NNNN. Additional description of the methods and rationale for data collection is provided there. The primary data are from several categories of data-logging sensors described in detail below. Sixteen images are also included as part of this data release. These document the sensor locations as described in Dundas et al. (NNNN).
By
Astrogeology Science Center

Sensor Data from Monitoring the Cooling of the 2014-2015 Lava Flow and Hydrothermal System at Holuhraun, Iceland

This data release is a companion to Dundas et al., NNNN. Additional description of the methods and rationale for data collection is provided there. The primary data are from several categories of data-logging sensors described in detail below. Sixteen images are also included as part of this data release. These document the sensor locations as described in Dundas et al. (NNNN).
By
Astrogeology Science Center

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 geologic processes are exceptionally robust for plan
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center, Planetary Geologic Mapping

Geologic map of Io

Io, discovered by Galileo Galilei on January 7–13, 1610, is the innermost of the four Galilean satellites of the planet Jupiter (Galilei, 1610). It is the most volcanically active object in the Solar System, as recognized by observations from six National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) spacecraft: Voyager 1 (March 1979), Voyager 2 (July 1979), Hubble Space Telescope (1990–present), Ga
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center, Planetary Geologic Mapping
Filter Total Items: 22
Image: Coso Volcanic Field Tumulus
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Image: A'a' Channel
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Image: A'a' Channel
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Image: A'a' Channel
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Image: Section of Burst Tumulus
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Image: Pu’u ‘Ō’ō
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Image: Channelized Dacite Flow
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Image: Channelized Flow on Socompa
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Image: Burst tumulus
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Image: West Kamokuna Skylight
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Image: Drippy tumulus
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Image: Cinder Cone in Mount Aso
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Image: Flat tumulus
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Image: Flat Tumuli
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Image: Detail of pahoehoe lobe
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Image: Welded Scoria
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Image: Draped Scoria Cone
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Image: Bifurcating Skylight
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Image: Pu’u ‘Ō’ō
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Image: Pu’u ‘Ō’ō Lava Lake
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Image: Cinder Cones on Mauna Kea
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Filter Total Items: 74

The composition of Io

Io is unlike any other body in the Solar System making questions about its chemical composition especially interesting and challenging. This chapter examines the many different, but frustratingly indirect, constraints we have on the bulk composition of this restless moon. A detailed consideration of Io’s lavas is used to illustrate how decades of research have bounded, but not pinned down, the che
Authors
Laszlo P. Kestay, Terry-Ann Suer
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

Assessment of lunar resource exploration in 2022

The idea of mining the Moon, once purely science-fiction, is now on the verge of becoming reality. Taking advantage of the resources on the Moon is part of the plans of many nations and some enterprising commercial entities; demonstrating in-situ (in place) resource utilization near the lunar south pole is an explicit goal of the United States’ Artemis program. Economic extraction and sustainable
Authors
Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Joshua A. Coyan, Kristen A. Bennett, Lillian R. Ostrach, Lisa R. Gaddis, Travis S.J. Gabriel, Justin Hagerty
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Astrogeology Science Center

The cycles driving Io’s tectonics

Io is famous for its active volcanoes, but its vigorous tectonics, which are unlike Earth’s plate tectonics, are no less remarkable. The nature of Io’s thick, cold, brittle lithosphere has been revealed through decades of investigations. The dynamics of this system is most easily explained by considering three cycles: magmatic, tectonic, and sulfurous. The magmatic cycle transports heat by a “heat
Authors
Laszlo P. Kestay, Windy L Jaeger, Jani Radebaugh
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

hical—The HiRISE radiometric calibration software developed within the ISIS3 planetary image processing suite

IntroductionThis report summarizes the software and algorithms that are used to calibrate images returned by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft. The instrument design and data processing methods are summarized below, followed by a description of relevant calibration data and details of the calibration procedure. I
Authors
Kris J. Becker, Moses P. Milazzo, W. Alan Delamere, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, Eric M. Eliason, Patrick S. Russell, Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Alfred S. McEwen
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

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 processes and products observed in this volcanic field
Authors
Amber L. Gullikson, M. Elise Rumpf, Lauren A. Edgar, Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, James A. Skinner, Lisa Thompson
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Astrogeology Science Center

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 volcanic intrusions. Udell (1985) has shown that heat pi
Authors
Kaj E. Williams, Colin M. Dundas, Laszlo P. Kestay
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

Lava–water interaction and hydrothermal activity within the 2014–2015 Holuhraun Lava Flow Field, Iceland

Lava that erupted during the 2014–2015 Holuhraun eruption in Iceland flowed into a proglacial river system, resulting in aqueous cooling of the lava and an ephemeral hydrothermal system. We carried out a monitoring study of this system from 2015 to 2018 to document the cooling of the lava over this time, using thermocouple measurements and data-logging sensors. The heat loss rate from advection th
Authors
Colin M. Dundas, Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Einat Lev, M. Elise Rumpf, Christopher W. Hamilton, Armann Hoskuldsson, Thorvaldur Thordarson
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Astrogeology Science Center

Compositional layering in Io driven by magmatic segregation and volcanism

The compositional evolution of volcanic bodies like Io is not well understood. Magmatic segregation and volcanic eruptions transport tidal heat from Io's interior to its surface. Several observed eruptions appear to be extremely high temperature (≥ 1600 K), suggesting either very high degrees of melting, refractory source regions, or intensive viscous heating on ascent. To address this ambiguity,
Authors
Dan C Spencer, Richard F. Katz, Ian J. Hewitt, David A. May, Laszlo P. Kestay
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

The flood lavas of Kasei Valles, Mars

Both the northern and southern arms of Kasei Valles are occupied by platy-ridged flood lavas. We have mapped these flows and examined their morphology to better understand their emplacement. The lavas were emplaced as high-flux, turbulent flows (exceeding 106 m3 s−1). Lava in southern Kasei Valles can be traced back up onto the Tharsis rise, which is also the likely source of lavas in the northern
Authors
Colin M. Dundas, Glen E. Cushing, Laszlo P. Kestay
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

The Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) for the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter

The Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) is the main imaging system onboard the European Space Agency’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) which was launched on 14 March 2016. CaSSIS is intended to acquire moderately high resolution (4.6 m/pixel) targeted images of Mars at a rate of 10–20 images per day from a roughly circular orbit 400 km above the surface. Each image can be acquired in
Authors
N. Thomas, G. Cremonese, R. Ziethe, M. Gerber, M. Brändli, G. Bruno, M. Erismann, L. Gambicorti, T. Gerber, K. Ghose, M. Gruber, P. Gubler, H. Mischler, J. Jost, D. Piazza, A. Pommerol, M. Rieder, V. Roloff, A. Servonet, W. Trottmann, T. Uthaicharoenpong, C. Zimmermann, D. Vernani, M. Johnson, E. Pelò, T. Weigel, J. Viertl, N. De Roux, P. Lochmatter, G. Sutter, A. Casciello, T. Hausner, I. Ficai Veltroni, V. Da Deppo, P. Orleanski, W. Nowosielski, T. Zawistowski, S. Szalai, B. Sodor, S. Tulyakov, G. Troznai, M. Banaskiewicz, J.C. Bridges, S. Byrne, S. Debei, M. R. El-Maarry, E. Hauber, C.J. Hansen, A. Ivanov, L. Keszthelyil, Randolph L. Kirk, R. Kuzmin, N. Mangold, L. Marinangeli, W. J. Markiewicz, M. Massironi, A. S. McEwen, Chris H. Okubo, L.L. Tornabene, P. Wajer, J.J. Wray
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

The U.S. Geological Survey Astrogeology Science Center

In 1960, Eugene Shoemaker and a small team of other scientists founded the field of astrogeology to develop tools and methods for astronauts studying the geology of the Moon and other planetary bodies. Subsequently, in 1962, the U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Astrogeology was established in Menlo Park, California. In 1963, the Branch moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, to be closer to the young lava fl
Authors
Laszlo P. Kestay, R. Greg Vaughan, Lisa R. Gaddis, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, Justin Hagerty
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

Feasibility study for the quantitative assessment of mineral resources in asteroids

This study was undertaken to determine if the U.S. Geological Survey’s process for conducting mineral resource assessments on Earth can be applied to asteroids. Successful completion of the assessment, using water and iron resources to test the workflow, has resulted in identification of the minimal adjustments required to conduct full resource assessments beyond Earth. We also identify the types
Authors
Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Justin Hagerty, Amanda Bowers, Karl J. Ellefsen, Ian Ridley, Trude King, David Trilling, Nicholas Moskovitz, Will Grundy
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center
link

First Global Geologic Map of Largest Moon in the Solar System Details an Icy World

More than 400 years after its discovery by Galileo, the largest moon in the Solar System – Ganymede – has finally claimed a spot on the map. 

Read Article

Science and Products

  • Science
    link
    Olympus Mons taken by Viking Orbit

    Planetary Volcanology

    The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on planetary volcanology. Volcanism is a key part of the chemical and thermal evolution of planetary bodies, and volcanic eruptions are one of the fundamental processes that create and alter the surface of planetary bodies. We often study volcanoes on Earth in order to better understand eruptions across the Solar System, but we also bring...
    By
    Core Science Systems Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center
    link

    Planetary Volcanology

    The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on planetary volcanology. Volcanism is a key part of the chemical and thermal evolution of planetary bodies, and volcanic eruptions are one of the fundamental processes that create and alter the surface of planetary bodies. We often study volcanoes on Earth in order to better understand eruptions across the Solar System, but we also bring...
    Learn More
    link
    SP Crater Arizona

    Terrestrial Analogs for Research and Geologic Exploration Training (TARGET)​

    The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Science Center (ASC) recently established the Terrestrial Analogs for Research and Geologic Exploration Training (TARGET) program. This service-oriented program is built around the recognition that the Earth is a fundamental training ground for human and robotic planetary exploration, and that ASC is in a unique position in northern Arizona with...
    By
    Core Science Systems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center, Planetary Geologic Mapping
    link

    Terrestrial Analogs for Research and Geologic Exploration Training (TARGET)​

    The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Science Center (ASC) recently established the Terrestrial Analogs for Research and Geologic Exploration Training (TARGET) program. This service-oriented program is built around the recognition that the Earth is a fundamental training ground for human and robotic planetary exploration, and that ASC is in a unique position in northern Arizona with...
    Learn More
  • Data

    Sensor Data from Monitoring the Cooling of the 2014-2015 Lava Flow and Hydrothermal System at Holuhraun, Iceland

    This data release is a companion to Dundas et al., NNNN. Additional description of the methods and rationale for data collection is provided there. The primary data are from several categories of data-logging sensors described in detail below. Sixteen images are also included as part of this data release. These document the sensor locations as described in Dundas et al. (NNNN).
    By
    Astrogeology Science Center

    Sensor Data from Monitoring the Cooling of the 2014-2015 Lava Flow and Hydrothermal System at Holuhraun, Iceland

    This data release is a companion to Dundas et al., NNNN. Additional description of the methods and rationale for data collection is provided there. The primary data are from several categories of data-logging sensors described in detail below. Sixteen images are also included as part of this data release. These document the sensor locations as described in Dundas et al. (NNNN).
    By
    Astrogeology Science Center
  • Maps

    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 geologic processes are exceptionally robust for plan
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center, Planetary Geologic Mapping

    Geologic map of Io

    Io, discovered by Galileo Galilei on January 7–13, 1610, is the innermost of the four Galilean satellites of the planet Jupiter (Galilei, 1610). It is the most volcanically active object in the Solar System, as recognized by observations from six National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) spacecraft: Voyager 1 (March 1979), Voyager 2 (July 1979), Hubble Space Telescope (1990–present), Ga
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center, Planetary Geologic Mapping
  • Multimedia
    Filter Total Items: 22
    Image: Coso Volcanic Field Tumulus
    link
    Image: A'a' Channel
    link
    Image: A'a' Channel
    link
    Image: A'a' Channel
    link
    Image: Section of Burst Tumulus
    link
    Image: Pu’u ‘Ō’ō
    link
    Image: Channelized Dacite Flow
    link
    Image: Channelized Flow on Socompa
    link
    Image: Burst tumulus
    link
    Image: West Kamokuna Skylight
    link
    Image: Drippy tumulus
    link
    Image: Cinder Cone in Mount Aso
    link
    Image: Flat tumulus
    link
    Image: Flat Tumuli
    link
    Image: Detail of pahoehoe lobe
    link
    Image: Welded Scoria
    link
    Image: Draped Scoria Cone
    link
    Image: Bifurcating Skylight
    link
    Image: Pu’u ‘Ō’ō
    link
    Image: Pu’u ‘Ō’ō Lava Lake
    link
    Image: Cinder Cones on Mauna Kea
    link
  • Publications
    Filter Total Items: 74

    The composition of Io

    Io is unlike any other body in the Solar System making questions about its chemical composition especially interesting and challenging. This chapter examines the many different, but frustratingly indirect, constraints we have on the bulk composition of this restless moon. A detailed consideration of Io’s lavas is used to illustrate how decades of research have bounded, but not pinned down, the che
    Authors
    Laszlo P. Kestay, Terry-Ann Suer
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

    Assessment of lunar resource exploration in 2022

    The idea of mining the Moon, once purely science-fiction, is now on the verge of becoming reality. Taking advantage of the resources on the Moon is part of the plans of many nations and some enterprising commercial entities; demonstrating in-situ (in place) resource utilization near the lunar south pole is an explicit goal of the United States’ Artemis program. Economic extraction and sustainable
    Authors
    Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Joshua A. Coyan, Kristen A. Bennett, Lillian R. Ostrach, Lisa R. Gaddis, Travis S.J. Gabriel, Justin Hagerty
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Astrogeology Science Center

    The cycles driving Io’s tectonics

    Io is famous for its active volcanoes, but its vigorous tectonics, which are unlike Earth’s plate tectonics, are no less remarkable. The nature of Io’s thick, cold, brittle lithosphere has been revealed through decades of investigations. The dynamics of this system is most easily explained by considering three cycles: magmatic, tectonic, and sulfurous. The magmatic cycle transports heat by a “heat
    Authors
    Laszlo P. Kestay, Windy L Jaeger, Jani Radebaugh
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

    hical—The HiRISE radiometric calibration software developed within the ISIS3 planetary image processing suite

    IntroductionThis report summarizes the software and algorithms that are used to calibrate images returned by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft. The instrument design and data processing methods are summarized below, followed by a description of relevant calibration data and details of the calibration procedure. I
    Authors
    Kris J. Becker, Moses P. Milazzo, W. Alan Delamere, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, Eric M. Eliason, Patrick S. Russell, Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Alfred S. McEwen
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

    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 processes and products observed in this volcanic field
    Authors
    Amber L. Gullikson, M. Elise Rumpf, Lauren A. Edgar, Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, James A. Skinner, Lisa Thompson
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Astrogeology Science Center

    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 volcanic intrusions. Udell (1985) has shown that heat pi
    Authors
    Kaj E. Williams, Colin M. Dundas, Laszlo P. Kestay
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

    Lava–water interaction and hydrothermal activity within the 2014–2015 Holuhraun Lava Flow Field, Iceland

    Lava that erupted during the 2014–2015 Holuhraun eruption in Iceland flowed into a proglacial river system, resulting in aqueous cooling of the lava and an ephemeral hydrothermal system. We carried out a monitoring study of this system from 2015 to 2018 to document the cooling of the lava over this time, using thermocouple measurements and data-logging sensors. The heat loss rate from advection th
    Authors
    Colin M. Dundas, Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Einat Lev, M. Elise Rumpf, Christopher W. Hamilton, Armann Hoskuldsson, Thorvaldur Thordarson
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Astrogeology Science Center

    Compositional layering in Io driven by magmatic segregation and volcanism

    The compositional evolution of volcanic bodies like Io is not well understood. Magmatic segregation and volcanic eruptions transport tidal heat from Io's interior to its surface. Several observed eruptions appear to be extremely high temperature (≥ 1600 K), suggesting either very high degrees of melting, refractory source regions, or intensive viscous heating on ascent. To address this ambiguity,
    Authors
    Dan C Spencer, Richard F. Katz, Ian J. Hewitt, David A. May, Laszlo P. Kestay
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

    The flood lavas of Kasei Valles, Mars

    Both the northern and southern arms of Kasei Valles are occupied by platy-ridged flood lavas. We have mapped these flows and examined their morphology to better understand their emplacement. The lavas were emplaced as high-flux, turbulent flows (exceeding 106 m3 s−1). Lava in southern Kasei Valles can be traced back up onto the Tharsis rise, which is also the likely source of lavas in the northern
    Authors
    Colin M. Dundas, Glen E. Cushing, Laszlo P. Kestay
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

    The Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) for the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter

    The Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) is the main imaging system onboard the European Space Agency’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) which was launched on 14 March 2016. CaSSIS is intended to acquire moderately high resolution (4.6 m/pixel) targeted images of Mars at a rate of 10–20 images per day from a roughly circular orbit 400 km above the surface. Each image can be acquired in
    Authors
    N. Thomas, G. Cremonese, R. Ziethe, M. Gerber, M. Brändli, G. Bruno, M. Erismann, L. Gambicorti, T. Gerber, K. Ghose, M. Gruber, P. Gubler, H. Mischler, J. Jost, D. Piazza, A. Pommerol, M. Rieder, V. Roloff, A. Servonet, W. Trottmann, T. Uthaicharoenpong, C. Zimmermann, D. Vernani, M. Johnson, E. Pelò, T. Weigel, J. Viertl, N. De Roux, P. Lochmatter, G. Sutter, A. Casciello, T. Hausner, I. Ficai Veltroni, V. Da Deppo, P. Orleanski, W. Nowosielski, T. Zawistowski, S. Szalai, B. Sodor, S. Tulyakov, G. Troznai, M. Banaskiewicz, J.C. Bridges, S. Byrne, S. Debei, M. R. El-Maarry, E. Hauber, C.J. Hansen, A. Ivanov, L. Keszthelyil, Randolph L. Kirk, R. Kuzmin, N. Mangold, L. Marinangeli, W. J. Markiewicz, M. Massironi, A. S. McEwen, Chris H. Okubo, L.L. Tornabene, P. Wajer, J.J. Wray
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

    The U.S. Geological Survey Astrogeology Science Center

    In 1960, Eugene Shoemaker and a small team of other scientists founded the field of astrogeology to develop tools and methods for astronauts studying the geology of the Moon and other planetary bodies. Subsequently, in 1962, the U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Astrogeology was established in Menlo Park, California. In 1963, the Branch moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, to be closer to the young lava fl
    Authors
    Laszlo P. Kestay, R. Greg Vaughan, Lisa R. Gaddis, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, Justin Hagerty
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

    Feasibility study for the quantitative assessment of mineral resources in asteroids

    This study was undertaken to determine if the U.S. Geological Survey’s process for conducting mineral resource assessments on Earth can be applied to asteroids. Successful completion of the assessment, using water and iron resources to test the workflow, has resulted in identification of the minimal adjustments required to conduct full resource assessments beyond Earth. We also identify the types
    Authors
    Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Justin Hagerty, Amanda Bowers, Karl J. Ellefsen, Ian Ridley, Trude King, David Trilling, Nicholas Moskovitz, Will Grundy
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center
  • News
    link

    First Global Geologic Map of Largest Moon in the Solar System Details an Icy World

    More than 400 years after its discovery by Galileo, the largest moon in the Solar System – Ganymede – has finally claimed a spot on the map. 

    Read Article