Geologic mapping of Europa

Geologic mapping of Vesta

We report on a preliminary global geologic map of Vesta, based on data from the Dawn spacecraft’s HighAltitude Mapping Orbit (HAMO) and informed by Low-Altitude Mapping Orbit (LAMO) data. This map is part of an iterative mapping effort; the geologic map has been refined with each improvement in resolution. Vesta has a heavily-cratered surface, with large craters evident in numerous locations. T...

Geologic mapping of tectonic planets

Geological analysis of planets typically begins with the construction of a geologic map of the planets' surfaces using remote data sets. Geologic maps provide the basis for interpretations of geologic histories, which in turn provide critical relations for understanding the range of processes that contributed to the evolution. Because geologic mapping should ultimately lead to the discovery of ...

New horizons mapping of Europa and Ganymede.

The New Horizons spacecraft observed Jupiter's icy satellites Europa and Ganymede during its flyby in February and March 2007 at visible and infrared wavelengths. Infrared spectral images map H2O ice absorption and hydrated contaminants, bolstering the case for an exogenous source of Europa's "non-ice" surface material and filling large gaps in compositional maps of Ganymede's Jupiter-facing he...

The New World of 3D Geologic Mapping

Digital geologic mapping is now a fully mature technology that dramatically improves field efficiency and problem solving capabilities. Basic digital mapping is just the tip of the iceberg, however, in regard to new and approaching capabilities with true 3D mapping. The key advance is the ability to easily construct high-resolution, photorealistic terrain models as a base surface for 3D mapping...

Introduction: The geologic mapping of Vesta