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Full-Text Articles in Physics
Characterizing The Particle Size Distribution In Saturn's Rings Using Cassini Uvis Stellar Occultation Data, Stephanie Eckert
Characterizing The Particle Size Distribution In Saturn's Rings Using Cassini Uvis Stellar Occultation Data, Stephanie Eckert
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-
NASA's Cassini mission to Saturn revolutionized modern understanding of the planet's vast and intricate ring system. We use stellar occultation data from Cassini's UVIS High Speed Photometer (HSP) to characterize the particle size distribution in the rings with two methods. First, we discern the sizes of the smallest particles at ring edges by forward-modeling observed diffraction signatures which appear as spikes in the signal, the shape and amplitude of which depends on the size and abundance of the smallest particles. We then probe the upper end of the size distribution using occultation statistics. Although the distribution of photon counts in …
The Physical Properties And Composition Of Main-Belt Asteroids From Infrared Spectroscopy, Zoe Landsman
The Physical Properties And Composition Of Main-Belt Asteroids From Infrared Spectroscopy, Zoe Landsman
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Asteroids are the remnants of planet formation, and as such, they represent a record of the physical and chemical conditions in the early solar system and its evolution over the past 4.6 billion years. Asteroids are relatively accessible by spacecraft, and thus may be a source of the raw materials necessary for future human exploration and settlement of space. Those on Earth-crossing orbits pose impact hazards for which mitigation strategies must be developed. For these reasons, several missions to asteroids are in progress or planned with the support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other national space …