51st LPSC, March 2020 Options

[Phil Stooke]

Abstract submission begins for the next LPSC today... and I got in fast with abstract number 1001, "Re-mapping the Apollo 17 LRV traverses". I think that means I was the first to submit. One of the benefits of being supposedly retired... The website had said it would start tomorrow, but it was available today. It's not about quality, it's about being first!

There will be sessions on exploring the lunar south pole, Curiosity in the Glen Torridon, asteroids Bennu and Ryugu ..... and much more. Be there or be extremely square.

OK, UMSF members planning to attend... let's see if we can get together.

Phil

[jccwrt]

I should be there this year as well...got in early with abstract #1052. Looking at diurnal changes in the thermal spectrum of Martian surfaces - we're seeing differences (some significant!) in THEMIS spectra taken during Ody's ~3pm orbit vs. those taken in the new ~6pm orbit. We're thinking it's due to decreasing thermal radiance from fine regolith materials as the surface cools off, so we get a stronger spectral contribution from cobbles, boulders, and bedrock. Looking at the latter would give us a better picture of Martian history, since modern erosional and aeolian processes in fine regolith (like grain sorting or lag deposit formation) might distort our understanding of the surface composition.

The abstract was submitted for a talk so we'll see if that ends up happening.