My research interests are broadly motivated by the question “How did the Solar System form?” Planetary science is an inherently cross disciplinary field. So, I utilize techniques pulled from astronomy and geology to study the surfaces of objects within our Solar System.
Trojan Asteroids and the Lucy Mission
Trojan asteroids. Active research. Follow along as Lucy journeys out to the Trojans! WhereIsLucy.Space
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Relevant Papers
- The Discovery of a Contact-Binary Satellite of the Asteroid (152830) Dinkinesh by the Lucy Mission
- JWST near-infrared spectroscopy of the Lucy Jupiter Trojan flyby targets: Evidence for OH absorption, aliphatic organics, and CO2
- Surface Compositions of Trojan Asteroids
- Mid-Infrared Spectral Analysis of Jovian Trojan Asteroids
Asteroid Dinkinesh with its satellite, Selam. Credit: NASA/SwRI/JHPL/NOIRLab/Brian May
Lucy Mission Patch. Credit: NASA/SwRI
Illustration of the Lucy spacecraft flying by Trojan Asteroids. Credit: Roen Kelly
Laboratory Mid-IR Spectroscopy
Laboratory based MIR studies.
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Relevant Papers
- Mid-Infrared Reflectance and Emissivity Spectra of High Porosity Regoliths
Data Available Here - Measuring the effects of regolith porosity on mid-IR spectra of the Allende meteorite
Data Available Here - Spectral effect of regolith porosity in the Mid-IR – Pyroxene
Data Available Here - Spectral effect of regolith porosity in the Mid-IR – Forsteritic olivine
Data Available Here
Spectra of particulate olivine with increasing regolith porosity from top to bottom (Martin et al., 2022).
Olivine hand sample.
The Moon
Moon intro. Moon spectroscopy.
Asteroid Observations
Spitzer Space Telescope. JWST.
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Relevant Papers
- Comparative Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy of Dark, Primitive Asteroids: Does Shared Taxonomic Cass Indicate Shared Silicate Composition?
Analog Field Work
TREX SSERVI.
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Relevant Papers
- Rover Science Autonomy in Planetary Exploration: Field Analog Tests
