Search Publications
Reconstruction of the surface topography from single images with the photometric method
Bondarenko, N. V.; Dulova, I. A.; Skuratovsky, S. I. +1 more
The possibility of reconstructing the surface topography from single images with the photometric method in the linear approximation is analyzed. The photometric method or surface topography Reconstruction employs a statistical approach to the problem formulation and is the most mathematically correct. This method allows determination of the most p…
Reduction of photographic observations of asteroids to the reference frame of a single catalog
Chernetenko, Yu. A.
In 2000, the last international program of photographic observations of selected asteroids aimed at the determination of the mutual orientation of the dynamic and stellar coordinate systems came to an end. The Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences collected more than 25 000 observations for 15 asteroids spanning from 19…
On the probability of cryogenic mud volcanism on Titan
Alekseev, V. A.
Juxtaposing images of the surface of Titan made by the Huygens probe and photos of the mud volcano region on Earth (the Taman peninsula, the Caucasus) reveals similar geomorphologic features. This has led us to suggest the existence of cryogenic mud-volcanic activity on Titan. The role of liquid methane in supporting this process on Titan can be t…
Craters, smooth terrains, flows, and layering on the comet nuclei
Keller, H. U.; Basilevsky, A. T.
The paper considers morphology of craters, smooth surfaces, and flows as well as signatures of layering observed on nuclei of Borrelly, Wild 2, and Tempel 1. In our analysis, we emphasize the role of the so-called planation process, which involves avalanche-type flows and can be responsible for the formation of flow-like features, smooth terrains,…
The Olympus volcano on Mars: Geometry and characteristics of lava flows
Neukum, G.; HRSC Co-Investigator Team; Basilevskaya, E. A.
The HRSC (image 0037) and MOC imagery and MOLA altimetry were used to determine the following parameters of the lava flows typical of the southern slope of the Martian volcano Olympus: the length (13-35 km), the width (0.2-4.8 km), and the angles of ground slopes along which these flows advanced (3.4°-6.9°). To measure the thickness of the flows, …
Search for causes of the low epithermal neutron flux anomaly in the Arabia Terra region (Mars)
Head, J. W.; Neukum, G.; Werner, S. +8 more
A geologic analysis of 274 images acquired by the high-resolution MOC camera onboard the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft within the Arabia Terra low neutron flux anomaly (which is indicative of an anomalously high abundance of hydrogen: up to 16 wt % of the equivalent amount of water) was performed. Correlation between the enhanced abundance of eq…
Models of the protosatellite disk of Saturn: Conditions for Titan's formation
Dorofeeva, V. A.; Makalkin, A. B.
Models of the protosatellite accretion disk of Saturn are developed that satisfy cosmochemical constraints on the volatile abundances in the atmospheres of Saturn and Titan with due regard for the data obtained with the Cassini orbiter and the Huygens probe, which landed on Titan in January 2005. All basic sources of heating of the disk and protos…
Morphology and geological structure of the western part of the Olympus Mons volcano on Mars from the analysis of the Mars Express HRSC imagery
Jaumann, R.; Head, J. W.; Neukum, G. +8 more
The images of the western part of Olympus Mons and adjacent plains acquired by the HRSC camera onboard the Mars Express spacecraft were studied. The morphology, topography, and color of the surface were investigated. The surface age was determined by the frequencies of impact craters. The examination of the HRSC images combined with an analysis of…
The Surface Structure of the M-Type Asteroid 21 Lutetia: Spectral and Frequency Analysis
Prokof'eva, V. V.; Bochkov, V. V.; Busarev, V. V.
A preliminary study of the surface of the asteroid 21 Lutetia with ground-based methods is of significant importance, because this object is included into the Rosetta space mission schedule. From August 31 to November 20, 2000, about 50 spectra of Lutetia and the same number of spectra of the solar analog HD10307 (G2V) and regional standards were …
Spacecraft exploration of asteroids
Shevchenko, V. G.; Mohamed, R. A.
The past, current, and planned space missions for asteroid exploration are reviewed. The main results based on observations performed with satellites in near-Earth orbits (OAO-2, IUE, FIRSSE, IRAS, HST, Hipparcos, ISO, MSX) and space probes sent to particular objects (Galileo, NEAR, DS1, Stardust) are reported. Future space missions (MUSES-C, Rose…