When
3:30 p.m., Sept. 6, 2011
Where
Kuiper Space Sciences 308
Dr. Mark Sykes
Planetary Science Institute
"Dawn at Vesta"
Abstract:
The NASA Dawn mission launched on September 27, 2007, and traveled to its first target, Vesta, using solar electric propulsion. Approaching Vesta, it conducted a Moon search, and entered (very very slowly) into orbit on August 11, 2011. Vesta is the second largest asteroid in the main belt and is covered with basalt. It is the source of a large family of asteroids and possibly 6% of the meteorites that fall on Earth. Hubble observations showed a large impact structure covering the southern hemisphere of the asteroid, which is thought to be the origin of Vesta's asteroid family. Dawn is revealing the detailed structure of this feature, showing what may be an interesting central peak well off-set from the center. Vesta is heavily cratered with much mass-wasting as well as albedo and color variations across its surface. Extensive troughs girdle much of its equator. The northern hemisphere is still largely in shadow. Dawn will study Vesta for about a year before departing for its second target, Ceres, the smallest planet in the solar system.
Planetary Science Institute
"Dawn at Vesta"
Abstract:
The NASA Dawn mission launched on September 27, 2007, and traveled to its first target, Vesta, using solar electric propulsion. Approaching Vesta, it conducted a Moon search, and entered (very very slowly) into orbit on August 11, 2011. Vesta is the second largest asteroid in the main belt and is covered with basalt. It is the source of a large family of asteroids and possibly 6% of the meteorites that fall on Earth. Hubble observations showed a large impact structure covering the southern hemisphere of the asteroid, which is thought to be the origin of Vesta's asteroid family. Dawn is revealing the detailed structure of this feature, showing what may be an interesting central peak well off-set from the center. Vesta is heavily cratered with much mass-wasting as well as albedo and color variations across its surface. Extensive troughs girdle much of its equator. The northern hemisphere is still largely in shadow. Dawn will study Vesta for about a year before departing for its second target, Ceres, the smallest planet in the solar system.
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