Planetary scientists sharing ideas and discoveries.

Planetary Science and Resources Discoveries (PSRD) is an educational site sharing the latest research on the nature and origin of the Moon, meteorites, asteroids, planets, and other materials in our Solar System, and on identifying potential resources on those bodies that could be tapped for the benefit of people on Earth. Original support came from the Planetary Science Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate and Hawai'i Space Grant Consortium. This site is a vital link for what's new in planetary and space sciences, space resources exploration, and learning how science works.

Archive of Space Weathering Articles

Articles listed by publication date.

DATE POSTED	HEADLINE ARTICLES	PDF VERSIONS
MAY 2016	An Improved Calibration of Reflectance Data from LOLA by Linda M. V. Martel CosmoSparks Report - An Icarus special issue presents new results from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, including LOLA data, relevant to space weathering and many other topics of interest.
FEB 2016	Space Weathering on the Moon–By Degrees Latitude by Linda M. V. Martel CosmoSparks Report - Researchers propose that reduced solar wind flux toward higher latitudes is the reason for systematic near-infrared spectral variations in lunar maria.
31 AUG 2011	Samples from Asteroid Itokawa by G. Jeffrey Taylor and Linda M. V. Martel 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.
FEB 2011	Asteroid Itokawa Samples by Linda M. V. Martel CosmoSparks Report - Hayabusa Mission results show definitive evidence for LL chondrite compositions of minerals in Itokawa Samples.
10 AUG 2009	Space Weathering Agent: Solar Wind by Linda M. V. Martel Bombardment of helium ions on olivine in the laboratory simulates space weathering of asteroids and other airless bodies.
29 APRIL 2008	A Farside Geochemical Window into the Moon by Linda M. V. Martel Findings show geochemical enhancements in the Dewar region are caused by thorium-rich mare basalt fragments in the regolith.
8 NOV 2006	Recent Gas Escape from the Moon by G. Jeffrey Taylor Gases may have escaped from the Moon as recently as a million years ago, implying that the lunar interior is not as lethargic as conventional wisdom dictates.
10 DEC 2004	Composition of the Moon's Crust by Linda M. V. Martel New empirical calibrations of Lunar Prospector and Clementine data yield improved global maps of Th, K, and FeO.
28 SEPT 2004	Lunar Crater Rays Point to a New Lunar Time Scale by Linda M. V. Martel Optical maturity maps of rays, derived from Clementine multispectral data and calibrated with lunar sample analyses, provide a new way to define the two youngest time stratigraphic units on the Moon.
5 JULY 2004	New Mineral Proves an Old Idea about Space Weathering by Linda M. V. Martel A newly discovered vapor-deposited iron silicide in a lunar meteorite has been named hapkeite.
26 FEB 2002	The Composition of Asteroid 433 Eros by G. Jeffrey Taylor X-rays and reflected light suggest that asteroid 433 Eros is similar in composition to the most common type of meteorite--maybe.
22 OCT 2001	New Data, New Ideas, and Lively Debate about Mercury by G. Jeffrey Taylor A hundred scientists gathered to share new data and ideas about the important little planet closest to the Sun.
20 OCT 1997	Moonbeams and Elements by G. Jeffrey Taylor The amount of light reflected off the Moon can be used to determine elemental abundances from orbit.

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