Dr. Daniella DellaGiustina, University of Arizona - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
When
3:40 to 4:40 a.m., Jan. 26, 2021
Abstract: The color and reflectance of asteroids can be used to infer their compositions and histories. Variations in these spectrophotometric properties are driven by differences in lithology and/or exposure to processes collectively known as space weathering (bombardment by meteoroids and solar wind ions). The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft acquired colors of near-Earth asteroid Bennu in 2019, revealing unexpected variation in color and reflectance. These data indicate primordial heterogeneity and complex space weathering on Bennu’s surface.