Research Mentor(s)
Rice, Melissa S.
Description
Reflectance spectroscopy is a major technique for characterizing the composition of planetary surfaces, and has led to key findings such as the characterization of alteration minerals indicative of an aqueous, neutral-pH environment in Mars’ past. When a reflectance spectrometer collects data, it does so at some viewing geometry, which is defined by the angular relationships between the light source illuminating the surface, the target material, and the detector. In the lab, this is usually at a standard viewing geometry (e.g. incidence=0, emission=30). In situ measurements taken by spacecraft, however, may be taken at a wide range of viewing geometries. This is known to have potential to influence spectral signatures, but work done to quantify the effects of viewing geometry on the spectra of natural rock surfaces has so far been limited. Western Washington University’s new automated goniometer enables the collection of reflectance spectra across a range of viewing geometries similar to those of spacecraft observations. By acquiring spectrogoniometric measurements for planetary analog samples in the lab, we will facilitate more comprehensive interpretations of spectral data from spacecraft than is currently possible.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
15-5-2019 9:00 AM
End Date
15-5-2019 5:00 PM
Location
Carver Gym (Bellingham, Wash.)
Department
Physics/Astronomy
Genre/Form
student projects, posters
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Goniometers; Reflectance spectroscopy; Planets--Geology
Type
Image
Keywords
photometry, spectroscopy, planetary geology, weathering, coatings, amorphous silica, Columbia River Basalt, nanohematite
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
An automated spectrogoniometer system with planetary science applications
Carver Gym (Bellingham, Wash.)
Reflectance spectroscopy is a major technique for characterizing the composition of planetary surfaces, and has led to key findings such as the characterization of alteration minerals indicative of an aqueous, neutral-pH environment in Mars’ past. When a reflectance spectrometer collects data, it does so at some viewing geometry, which is defined by the angular relationships between the light source illuminating the surface, the target material, and the detector. In the lab, this is usually at a standard viewing geometry (e.g. incidence=0, emission=30). In situ measurements taken by spacecraft, however, may be taken at a wide range of viewing geometries. This is known to have potential to influence spectral signatures, but work done to quantify the effects of viewing geometry on the spectra of natural rock surfaces has so far been limited. Western Washington University’s new automated goniometer enables the collection of reflectance spectra across a range of viewing geometries similar to those of spacecraft observations. By acquiring spectrogoniometric measurements for planetary analog samples in the lab, we will facilitate more comprehensive interpretations of spectral data from spacecraft than is currently possible.