Predicting the Mineralogy of Vesta Using Both Meteoritic and Synthetic Samples

Lehman, Katelyn

Publication

Predicting the Mineralogy of Vesta Using Both Meteoritic and Synthetic Samples

Lehman, Katelyn

Date

2014

Additional date(s)

2014-05-01

Abstract

The second largest asteroid, Vesta, tells an important story. This differentiated body gives a look at early planet formation, and consequently how a young Earth formed. Much of the process of how young bodies differentiate is unknown. If we analyze this body and understand the relationship between the different rock types then we can begin to understand differentiation. On Earth we do this by examining an outcrop, mapping, and doing chemical analysis on the different rocks. In space, the tools for analysis are more limited. The primary tool for understanding an outcrop is through remote sensing data with spectral analysis being the primary tool to understanding composition. The problem with spectral data is that it needs groundtruthing and to groundtruth, one must have samples. Luckily, in the case of Vesta, there are samples available through meteorites. In this study, Vestan minerals' spectral data was calibrated (groundtruthed) in order to accurately predict mineralogy on Vesta.