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Astrogeology Science Center

Our mission is to serve the Nation, the international planetary science community, and the public in pursuit of new knowledge of our solar system. The USGS Astrogeology Science Center is a national resource for the integration of planetary geoscience, cartography, and remote sensing.

News

Trick or Treat? Astrogeology explores the Solar System’s Halloween spirit.

Trick or Treat? Astrogeology explores the Solar System’s Halloween spirit.

Crater on Mars Named After Impact Cratering Scientist Dr. Nadine Barlow

Crater on Mars Named After Impact Cratering Scientist Dr. Nadine Barlow

Fire and Ice: Astrogeology involved in October spacecraft launches of Hera and Europa Clipper

Fire and Ice: Astrogeology involved in October spacecraft launches of Hera and Europa Clipper

Publications

Likely ferromagnetic minerals identified by the Perseverance rover and implications for future paleomagnetic analyses of returned Martian samples

Although Mars today does not have a core dynamo, magnetizations in the Martian crust and in meteorites suggest a magnetic field was present prior to 3.7 billion years (Ga) ago. However, the lack of ancient, oriented Martian bedrock samples available on Earth has prevented accurate estimates of the dynamo's intensity, lifetime, and direction. Constraining the nature and lifetime of the dynamo are v
Authors
M.N. Mansbach, T.V. Kizovski, E. L. Scheller, T. Bosak, L. Mandon, B. Horgan, R.C. Wiens, C.D.K. Herd, S. Sharma, J.R. Johnson, Travis S. J. Gabriel, O. Forni, B.P. Weiss

A novel surface energy balance method for thermal inertia studies of terrestrial analogs

Surface thermal inertia derived from satellite imagery offers a valuable tool for remotely mapping the physical structure and water content of planetary regolith. Efforts to quantify thermal inertia using surface temperatures on Earth, however, have consistently yielded large uncertainties and suffered from a lack of reproducibility. Unlike dry or airless bodies, Earth's abundant water and dense a
Authors
Ari Koeppel, Christopher S. Edwards, Lauren A. Edgar, Scott A Nowicki, Kristen A. Bennett, Amber Gullikson, Sylvain Piqueux, Helen A. Eifert, Daphne Chapline, A. Deanne Rogers

A comparison of CO2 seasonal activity in Mars' northern and southern hemispheres

Carbon dioxide is Mars' most active volatile. The seasonal and diurnal processes of when and where it condenses and sublimates are determined by energy balance between the atmosphere and surface ice in Mars' vapor pressure equilibrium climate. Mars' current obliquity ensures that the polar caps are stable locations for seasonal condensation. The eccentricity of Mars' orbit is the major driver of d
Authors
Candice J. Hansen, Shane Byrne, Wendy M. Calvin, Serina Diniega, Colin M. Dundas, Paul O. Hayne, Alfred S. McEwen, Lauren E McKeown, Sylvain Piqueux, Ganna Portyankina, Meg E Schwamb, Timothy N. Titus, Jacob M Widmer

Science

Python Hyperspectral Analysis Tool (PyHAT)

The Python Hyperspectral Analysis Tool (PyHAT) provides access to data processing, analysis, and machine learning capabilities for spectroscopic applications. It includes a GUI so you can get straight to analyzing data without writing any code. Or, if you are comfortable writing code, PyHAT can be imported just like any other Python package.
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Python Hyperspectral Analysis Tool (PyHAT)

The Python Hyperspectral Analysis Tool (PyHAT) provides access to data processing, analysis, and machine learning capabilities for spectroscopic applications. It includes a GUI so you can get straight to analyzing data without writing any code. Or, if you are comfortable writing code, PyHAT can be imported just like any other Python package.
Learn More

Analysis Ready Data

Astrogeology is a world leader in developing and releasing analysis-ready planetary science data sets that are approachable and usable by anyone. We take care of all of the processing and provide data that "just work" so that users can focus on what interests them instead of getting stuck on data processing.
link

Analysis Ready Data

Astrogeology is a world leader in developing and releasing analysis-ready planetary science data sets that are approachable and usable by anyone. We take care of all of the processing and provide data that "just work" so that users can focus on what interests them instead of getting stuck on data processing.
Learn More

Planetary Volcanology

The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on planetary volcanology. Volcanism is a key part of the chemical and thermal evolution of planetary bodies, and volcanic eruptions are one of the fundamental processes that create and alter the surface of planetary bodies. We often study volcanoes on Earth in order to better understand eruptions across the Solar System, but we also bring...
link

Planetary Volcanology

The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on planetary volcanology. Volcanism is a key part of the chemical and thermal evolution of planetary bodies, and volcanic eruptions are one of the fundamental processes that create and alter the surface of planetary bodies. We often study volcanoes on Earth in order to better understand eruptions across the Solar System, but we also bring...
Learn More
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