astrogeology Archives

An Earth-like target and a Mi = 3.604 × 1022 kg (Mi/Mt = 0.0063) impactor at the time of contact between the impactor and the target, with (a) the locations of tracer particles within the target and impactor, (b) geotherms under standard and warm mantle conditions (see Appendix A.3), as well as the solidus for our mantle and core materials, and (c) the pre-impact pressure and temperature profiles within the y = 0 km slice of both bodies. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Comets and Asteroids, Impact events, Meteorites & Asteroids, Status Report

The Distribution Of Impactor Core Material During Large Impacts On Earth-like Planets

by Keith CowingDecember 20, 2023December 20, 2023

Large impacts onto young rocky planets may transform their compositions, creating highly reducing conditions at their surfaces and reintroducing highly siderophile metals to their mantles. Key to these processes is […]

Optical reflectance spectra of 2004 GV9. Panel A: Here we compare our new GMOS reflectance spectra of 2004 GV9 both to each other and to coarse spectra derived from published single-epoch photometry (Rabinowitz et al. 2008; DeMeo et al. 2009; Fraser et al. 2015; Tegler et al. 2016). Hollow points in the GMOS spectra are either affected by incomplete background subtraction, telluric band residuals, proximity to the GMOS chip gaps, or a combination of these effects. All datasets are scaled to unit reflectance at 0.625 µm. We present all spectra calibrated with HD 124523 overlaid for direct comparison, and also offset for clarity. All offset spectra are offset vertically in increments of +0.2. Panel B: Here we show our 2004 GV9 spectra following division by a line fitted to them across their full wavelength coverage. Spectra from each epoch are offset vertically for clarity in increments of +0.1. Only spectra calibrated with HD 124523 are shown. Points affected by residuals of telluric absorption or imperfect background subtraction have been omitted. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Comets and Asteroids, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Meteorites & Asteroids, Status Report

Hunting for Hydrated Minerals on Trans-Neptunian Objects

by Keith CowingDecember 20, 2023December 20, 2023

We present new optical reflectance spectra of three potentially silicate-rich Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs). These spectra were obtained with the aim of confirming past hints and detections of 0.7 micron absorption […]

Optical images of the Ryugu sample (left) and the CI chondrite (Orgueil ; right). ©Kana Amano et al.

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Press Release

Ryugu Samples Illuminate Terrestrial Weathering Effects On Primitive Meteorites

by Keith CowingDecember 11, 2023December 11, 2023

A groundbreaking study conducted by a team of international scientists has unveiled unprecedented insights into the nature of the asteroid Ryugu and shed light on the composition of water- and […]

Scanning electron microscope image using material taken in the drill core from the borehole taken in 1981 from the Nördlinger Ries reveals dolomite crystals with rhombohedral shape. Photo: Lingqi Zeng, Göttingen University

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Impact events, Press Release

Limitations Of Asteroid Crater Lakes As Climate Archives

by Keith CowingDecember 6, 2023December 6, 2023

In southern Germany just north of the Danube, there lies a large circular depression between the hilly surroundings: the Nördlinger Ries. Almost 15 million years ago, an asteroid struck this […]

Flowchart of the procedure used for Lu-Hf analysis of extraterrestrial zircons. 1. The zircons are thermally annealed and then subjected to chemical abrasion2, 69. Two leachates (L1 and L2) and one residue (R) solutions are retrieved for further processing. The solutions are passed on chromatography columns filled with AG1-X8 resin to separate U+Pb from a solution containing Lu, Hf, Zr, and other trace elements. The U+Pb elutions are analyzed using a Phoenix TIMS at Princeton University. The solution containing Lu, Hf, Zr, and other trace elements is split into two, with 30% used for Lu/Hf determination using an iCAP at Princeton University, and 70% used for Hf purification and Hf isotopic analysis at the Origins Lab of the University of Chicago. 2. The "Lu, Hf, Zr" 70% split solution is passed on a column filled with TODGA resin 52, 53 to separate Zr+Hf from most other elements. 3. The Zr+Hf cut is passed on a second column filled with LnSpec resin (Fig. 2) to separate Hf from Zr 27, 50. 4. The isotopic composition of purified Hf is analyzed with a Neptune MC-ICP-MS at the University of Chicago. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Mars, Meteorites & Asteroids, Moon, Status Report

Methodologies for 176Lu-176Hf Analysis of Zircon Grains from the Moon and Beyond

by Keith CowingNovember 25, 2023

Zircons are found in extraterrestrial rocks from the Moon, Mars, and some differentiated meteorite parent-bodies. These zircons are rare, often of small size, and have been affected by neutron capture […]

Left: This image shows an oblique view of the Aswan collapse site. Five months after the collapse it clearly stands out as a substantially brighter region. The normal albedo is 0.17 ± 0.01 (Pajola et al. 2017a) and the current modelling suggests that dust and water ice near the intrinsic nucleus mixing ratio was exposed at this time (but no CO2 ice). Image MTP024 / n20151226t170504370id4df22.img (Sierks & the OSIRIS Team 2018b) was acquired on 2015 December 26 with ∼ 1.4 m px−1 resolution when Rosetta was 77.0 km from the comet. Right: This is a face–on view of the cliff showing that the brightness of the scar is significantly reduced, yet somewhat higher than for the surroundings eleven months after collapse. At this point the current modelling suggests a ∼ 0.5 mm dust mantle, i. e., so thin that some reflection of the water ice still might reach the surface. Image MTP030 / n20160608t143426745id4df22.img (Sierks & the OSIRIS Team 2018c) was acquired on 2016 June 8 with ∼ 0.5 m px−1 resolution when Rosetta was 29.7 km from the comet. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Meteorites & Asteroids, Status Report

Cliff Collapse On Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko – I. Aswan

by Keith CowingNovember 25, 2023November 25, 2023

The Aswan cliff on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko collapsed on 2015 July 10. Thereby, relatively pristine comet material from a depth of ~12 m was exposed at the surface. Observations of the […]

Examples of median-averaged IFU slices obtained with the G235M grating setting for Patroclus and Eurybates. The slices are projected onto the sky plane, with the x and y coordinates corresponding to right ascension and declination, respectively. A logarithmic stretch has been applied to the flux scaling in order to accentuate the detailed structure of the target PSFs at wide separations. The PSF of the Patroclus binary shows an extended shape. The black boxes denote the extraction regions used in producing the spectra. The faint background source near Patroclus lies in a region of the field of view that was masked during our spectral extraction. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Comets and Asteroids, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

JWST Near-infrared Spectroscopy Of The Lucy Jupiter Trojan Flyby Targets: Evidence For OH Absorption, Aliphatic Organics, And CO2

by Keith CowingNovember 23, 2023November 22, 2023

We present JWST/NIRSpec observations of the five Jupiter Trojans that will be visited by the Lucy spacecraft — the Patroclus–Menoetius binary, Eurybates, Orus, Leucus, and Polymele.

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Status Report

Extraterrestrial Materials Analysis Group (ExMAG) Call For Applications For 2024 Membership

by Keith CowingNovember 23, 2023November 22, 2023

The Extraterrestrial Materials Analysis Group (ExMAG) is seeking applications for open positions starting in 2024! Deadline for applications is December 8, 2023.

Confocal fluorescence microscopy images (1000 · ) of halite crystal-embedded cells of Deinococcus radiodurans co-stained with SYTO 9 and PI, showing characteristics of the crystal, the distribution of microorganisms inside fluid inclusions, and potential damage to the membrane. Color composite (SYTO 9 and PI). -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Meteorites & Asteroids, Microbiology & Virology, Panspermia, Radiation, Space Weather & Heliophysics, Status Report

Protective Effects of Halite to Vacuum and Vacuum-Ultraviolet Radiation: A Potential Scenario During a Young Sun Superflare

by Keith CowingNovember 17, 2023November 17, 2023

Halite (NaCl mineral) has exhibited the potential to preserve microorganisms for millions of years on Earth. This mineral was also identified on Mars and in meteorites.

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs

Perseverance Rover’s Autonomous Systems Enhance Astrobiology And Astrogeology On Mars

by Keith CowingNovember 12, 2023November 12, 2023

In about a third of the time it would have taken other NASA Mars rovers, Perseverance recently navigated its way through a field of boulders more than 1,700 feet wide […]

astrogeology

The Distribution Of Impactor Core Material During Large Impacts On Earth-like Planets

Hunting for Hydrated Minerals on Trans-Neptunian Objects

Ryugu Samples Illuminate Terrestrial Weathering Effects On Primitive Meteorites

Limitations Of Asteroid Crater Lakes As Climate Archives

Methodologies for 176Lu-176Hf Analysis of Zircon Grains from the Moon and Beyond

Cliff Collapse On Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko – I. Aswan

JWST Near-infrared Spectroscopy Of The Lucy Jupiter Trojan Flyby Targets: Evidence For OH Absorption, Aliphatic Organics, And CO2

Extraterrestrial Materials Analysis Group (ExMAG) Call For Applications For 2024 Membership

Protective Effects of Halite to Vacuum and Vacuum-Ultraviolet Radiation: A Potential Scenario During a Young Sun Superflare

Perseverance Rover’s Autonomous Systems Enhance Astrobiology And Astrogeology On Mars

On The Foundations Of Anthropic Reasoning: Implications For Life Across The Universe

NASA Curation Community Conversation Webinar

The Atmospheric Chemistry and Surface Interactions on Mars (ACSIOM) Workshop 2025

An ALMA View On Molecular Complexity: Water, Methanol, And Methyl Formate In The HD 100546 And IRS 48 Disks

The Occurrence of Circumbinary Planets Around TESS M-dwarf Eclipsing Binaries