Spectral properties and geology of bright and dark material on dwarf planet Ceres

Variations and spatial distributions of bright and dark material on dwarf planet Ceres play a key role in understanding the processes that have led to its present surface composition. We define limits for bright and dark material in order to distinguish them consistently, based on the reflectance of the average surface using Dawn Framing Camera data. A systematic classification of four types of bright material is presented based on their spectral properties, composition, spatial distribution, and association with specific geomorphological features. We found obvious correlations of reflectance with spectral shape (slopes) and age; however, this is not unique throughout the bright spots. Although impact features show generally more extreme reflectance variations, several areas can only be understood in terms of inhomogeneous distribution of composition as inferred from Dawn Visible and Infrared Spectrometer data. Additional material with anomalous composition and spectral properties are rare. The identification of the composition and origin of the dark, particularly the darkest material, remains to be explored. The spectral properties and the morphology of the dark sites suggest an endogenic origin, but it is not clear whether they are more or less primitive surficial exposures or excavated subsurface but localized material. The reflectance, spectral properties, inferred composition, and geologic context collectively suggest that the bright and dark material tends to gradually change toward the average surface over time. This could be because of multiple processes, i.e., impact gardening/space weathering, and lateral mixing, including thermal and aqueous alteration, accompanied by changes in composition and physical properties such as grain size, surface temperature, and porosity (compaction).Comment: Meteoritics and Planetary Science; Dawn at Ceres special issu

Detection of Rotational Spectral Variation on the M-type asteroid (16) Psyche

The asteroid (16) Psyche is of scientific interest because it contains ~ 1% of the total mass of the asteroid belt and is thought to be the remnant metallic core of a protoplanet. Radar observations have indicated the significant presence of metal on the surface with a small percentage of silicates. Prior ground-based observations showed rotational variations in the near-infrared (NIR) spectra and radar albedo of this asteroid. However, no comprehensive study that combines multi-wavelength data has been conducted so far. Here we present rotationally resolved NIR spectra (0.7-2.5 microns) of (16) Psyche obtained with the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility. These data have been combined with shape models of the asteroid for each rotation phase. Spectral band parameters extracted from the NIR spectra show that the pyroxene band center varies from ~ 0.92 to 0.94 microns. Band center values were used to calculate the pyroxene chemistry of the asteroid, whose average value was found to be Fs30En65Wo5. Variations in the band depth were also observed, with values ranging from 1.0 to 1.5%. Using a new laboratory spectral calibration we estimated an average orthopyroxene content of 6+/-1%. The mass-deficit region of Psyche, which exhibits the highest radar albedo, also shows the highest value for spectral slope and the minimum band depth. The spectral characteristics of Psyche suggest that its parent body did not have the typical structure expected for a differentiated body or that the sequence of events that led to its current state was more complex than previously thought.Comment: 21 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables, published in The Astronomical Journa

Effect of jet exit vanes on flow pulsations in an open-jet wind tunnel

An investigation was conducted of various jet exit vane configurations in the open test section of the Langley 4- by 7-Meter Tunnel to determine their effectiveness in reducing flow pulsations. The data consist of the instantaneous velocity fluctuations measured with hot-wire anemometers located at the tunnel centerline, 39.5 ft (12.0) downstream of the jet exit. The data are presented in the form of measured root-mean-square turbulence levels in the test section and a time series analysis for the baseline jet exit configuration (without vanes) and forthe most effective vane configuration, which consisted of triangular vanes alternating into and out of the flow around the jet exit

Lessons Learned from Preparing OSIRIS-REx Spectral Analog Samples for Bennu

NASA\u27s OSIRIS-REx sample return mission launched on September 8th, 2016 to rendezvous with B-type hide asteroid (101955) Bennu in 2018. Type C and B asteroids have been linked to carbonaceous chondrites because of their similar visible - to - near infrared (VIS-NIR) spectral properties [e.g., 1,2]. The OSIRIS-REx Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (OVIRS) and the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (OTES) will make spectroscopic observations of Bennu during the encounter. Constraining the presence or absence of hydrous minerals (e.g., Ca-carbonate, phyllosilicates) and organic molecules will be key to characterizing Bennu [3] prior to sample site selection. The goal of this study was to develop a suite of analog and meteorite samples and obtain their spectral properties over the wavelength ranges of OVIRS (0.4- 4.3 micrometer) and OTES (5.0-50 micrometer). These spectral data were used to validate the mission science-data processing system. We discuss the reasoning behind the study and share lessons learne

Detection of rotational spectral variation on the M-type asteroid (16) Psyche

The asteroid (16) Psyche is of scientific interest because it contains ∼1% of the total mass of the asteroid belt and is thought to be the remnant metallic core of a protoplanet. Radar observations have indicated the significant presence of metal on the surface with a small percentage of silicates. Prior ground-based observations showed rotational variations in the near-infrared (NIR) spectra and radar albedo of this asteroid. However, no comprehensive study that combines multi-wavelength data has been conducted so far. Here we present rotationally resolved NIR spectra (0.7–2.5 μm) of (16) Psyche obtained with the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility. These data have been combined with shape models of the asteroid for each rotation phase. Spectral band parameters extracted from the NIR spectra show that the pyroxene band center varies from ∼0.92 to 0.94 μm. Band center values were used to calculate the pyroxene chemistry of the asteroid, whose average value was found to be Fs30En65Wo5. Variations in the band depth (BD) were also observed, with values ranging from 1.0% to 1.5%. Using a new laboratory spectral calibration method, we estimated an average orthopyroxene content of 6% ± 1%. The mass-deficit region of Psyche, which exhibits the highest radar albedo, also shows the highest value for the spectral slope and the minimum BD. The spectral characteristics of Psyche suggest that its parent body did not have the typical structure expected for a differentiated body or that the sequence of events that led to its current state was more complex than previously thought.This research work was supported by NASA Planetary Mission Data Analysis Program Grant NNX13AP27G, NASA NEOO Program Grant NNX12AG12G, and NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program Grant NNX11AN84G… The Arecibo Planetary Radar Program is supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Grant Nos. NNX12AF24G and NNX13AQ46G, issued through the Near Earth Object Observations program. E.A.C. thanks the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Manitoba Research Innovations Fund, the Canadian Space Agency, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the University of Winnipeg for supporting the establishment and ongoing operation of the University of Winnipeg’s Planetary Spectrophotometer Facility.http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/153/1/29/met

Variations in color and reflectance on the surface of asteroid (101955) Bennu

Visible-wavelength color and reflectance provide information about the geologic history of planetary surfaces. We present multispectral images (0.44 to 0.89 microns) of near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu. The surface has variable colors overlain on a moderately blue global terrain. Two primary boulder types are distinguishable by their reflectance and texture. Space weathering of Bennu surface materials does not simply progress from red to blue (or vice versa). Instead, freshly exposed, redder surfaces initially brighten in the near-ultraviolet (become bluer at shorter wavelengths), then brighten in the visible to near-infrared, leading to Bennu’s moderately blue average color. Craters indicate that the timescale of these color changes is ~105 years. We attribute the reflectance and color variation to a combination of primordial heterogeneity and varying exposure ages

Student Independent Projects Psychology 2015:Self-Esteem: Is University Life Affecting Yours?

This study investigates factors that may influence the self-esteem of university students. One hundred and thirteen students (38 males and 75 females) from Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland with a mean age of 20.92 years (ranging from 18-39) voluntarily participated. A questionnaire containing four sections (demographics, academic information, personal information, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale) was distributed to students in select classrooms on campus. It was found that the three greatest predictors of self-esteem are gender (with males having higher self-esteem than females), semester average (the higher one’s overall average, the higher his or her self-esteem), and social time (the more time spent in a social setting, the higher one’s self-esteem). The implications of the current study are that factors of both academic and personal life can influence self-esteem, so individuals would benefit from finding a happy medium between both of these areas

Machine Gun Tactics in our Own and Other Armies

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