Multispectral Images Reveal the Surface Evolution of Bennu
When
Where
Daniella DellaGiustina
Lead Scientist, OSIRIS-REx Image Processing
Senior Staff Scientist
University of Arizona, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
Multispectral Images Reveal the Surface Evolution of Bennu
The color and reflectance of asteroids can be used to infer their compositions and histories. Variations in these spectrophotometric properties are driven by differences in lithology and/or exposure to processes collectively known as space weathering (bombardment by meteoroids and solar wind ions). The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft acquired colors of near-Earth asteroid Bennu in 2019, revealing unexpected variation in color and reflectance. These data indicate primordial heterogeneity and complex space weathering on Bennu’s surface.