Planetary Science Research Discoveries

Planetary scientists sharing ideas and discoveries.

Planetary Science Research Discoveries (PSRD) is an educational site sharing the latest research by NASA-sponsored scientists on meteorites, asteroids, planets, moons, and other materials in our Solar System. The website is supported by the Cosmochemistry Program of NASA's Science Mission Directorate and by Hawai'i Space Grant Consortium and is a vital link for planetary and space sciences, and for learning how science works.

Supported by NASA's SMD Cosmochemistry Program and Hawai'i Space Grant Consortium. RSS feed Share

» Young Tectonic Events in Martian Chaotic Terrain

(posted March 15, 2012)

Study of a faulted landslide in Aureum Chaos and its ramifications. » Full article.
You can also download a pdf version.

PSRD-AureumChaos-Mars.pdf

10 MOST RECENT HEADLINE ARTICLES. [ V I E W A L L ]

» Chronicle of a Chondrule's Travels
Isotopic measurements of a chondrule in a Comet Wild 2 grain tell the story of outward migration of solar nebula solids, helping to set the formation age of Jupiter.

» Formation of Carbonate Minerals in Martian Meteorite ALH 84001 from Cool Water Near the Surface of Mars
A new approach to thermometry using isotopic compositions of carbon and oxygen indicates that carbonate minerals in Martian meteorite ALH 84001 formed at 18 ± 4 ^oC.

» Festival on the Formation of the First Solids in the Solar System
Cosmochemists, astronomers, and astrophysical modelers shared data and ideas about the formation of the materials making up the Solar System.

» Samples from Asteroid Itokawa
Samples returned from asteroid Itokawa by the Hayabusa mission provide ground truth for astronomical observations and reveal that the little asteroid is eroding at a rate of tens of centimeters per million years.

» Crystallizing the Lunar Magma Ocean
Lab experiments help test ideas for the Moon's chemical composition and how its crust formed.

» A Traveling CAI
Oxygen isotopes show that a calcium-aluminum-rich inclusion wandered throughout the inner Solar System before being incorporated into an asteroid.

» Timeline of Martian Volcanism
High-resolution images allow a larger range of crater sizes to date calderas and the last major periods of volcanic activity on Mars.

» Wet, Carbonaceous Asteroids: Altering Minerals, Changing Amino Acids
Aqueous alteration in asteroids containing organic compounds leads to formation of hydrous minerals and changes in the mix of amino acids.

» Mineral Abundances in Martian Soils
Mineral abundances calculated from a trio of datasets reveal mixtures of unrelated igneous and alteration minerals in Martian dark soils.

» Supernova Confetti in Meteorites
Pre-solar grains carrying anomalous chromium-54 show evidence for formation in a supernova.

In this series of reports PSRD gives quick views of big advances in cosmochemistry, with links to further details.

» Earth's Temporary Minimoons -- Asteroids temporarily orbiting Earth follow a wild route before they exit. Could they someday be mined?

» Why the Definition of Crystal Changed -- The discovery of quasicrystals revolutionized the science of crystal chemistry, and one of them shows evidence of an extraterrestrial origin.

LINKS OPEN IN A NEW WINDOW.

California's Gold Country in the Sierra foothills is the site of a new search, this time for meteorites. The meteor was observed on April 22, 2012 and meteorite fragments are beginning to be found. Read more about it from the San Francisco Chronicle, "Astronomer Finds Meteorite Pieces in Gold Country," written by David Perlman. [Posted 26 April 2012.]

NASA's OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission is announcing a new venture called Target Asteroids! Amateur astronomers are invited to participate in a long-term citizen science project to collect data about near-Earth objects. Learn more and register for the project at the OSIRIS-REx web page. [Posted 23 April 2012.]

Job Announcement: The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher in SIMS microprobe analysis to work with an international team at NASA Johnson Space Center. For more information visit the LPI Positions Available web page. [Posted 23 April 2012.]

In this series of articles PSRD highlights the essential tools and amazing technology used by talented scientists seeking to unravel how the solar system formed.

This section of PSRD contains annotated slide sets that are associated with our articles. We hope you find the slides useful for your own talks and presentations.

This section of PSRD contains links to further information about meteorites, planetary science, and classroom activities.

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