Search

Your search keyword '"Allen W. Lunsford"' showing total 26 results
Start Over Author "Allen W. Lunsford"
26 results on '"Allen W. Lunsford"'

1. The Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) on Landsat 8: Design Overview and Pre-Launch Characterization

Author

Dennis C. Reuter, Cathleen M. Richardson, Fernando A. Pellerano, James R. Irons, Richard G. Allen, Martha Anderson, Murzy D. Jhabvala, Allen W. Lunsford, Matthew Montanaro, Ramsey L. Smith, Zelalem Tesfaye, and Kurtis J. Thome

Subjects
Landsat, LDCM, TIRS, thermal sensors, evapotranspiration, QWIP, Science
Abstract

The Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) on Landsat 8 is the latest thermal sensor in that series of missions. Unlike the previous single-channel sensors, TIRS uses two channels to cover the 10–12.5 micron band. It is also a pushbroom imager; a departure from the previous whiskbroom approach. Nevertheless, the instrument requirements are defined such that data continuity is maintained. This paper describes the design of the TIRS instrument, the results of pre-launch calibration measurements and shows an example of initial on-orbit science performance compared to Landsat 7.

Published
2015
Full Text
View/download PDF

3. Pre-launch Radiometric Calibration and Uncertainty Analysis of Landsat Thermal Infrared Sensor 2

Author

Aaron Pearlman, Matthew Montanaro, Boryana Efremova, Joel Thomas McCorkel, Brian N Wenny, Allen W Lunsford, and Dennis Reuter

Subjects
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing, Mechanical Engineering
Abstract

The Thermal Infrared Sensor-2 that will be on-board Landsat 9 has undergone a pre-launch testing campaign to characterize its radiometric, spectral, and spatial performance and demonstrate compliance to its requirements. This work reviews key elements of the instrument-level radiometric testing using an SI traceable source to derive its uncertainties. Those arising from on-orbit calibration using the TIRS-2 on-board blackbody are also discussed. We use a Monte Carlo approach to propagate the uncertainties through a non-linear calibration equation and address both random and systematic uncertainty terms. Achieving the required performance demonstrates the instrument’s potential for enhancing our understanding of the Earth’s environment.

Published
2020
Full Text
View/download PDF

4. Prelaunch Radiometric Calibration and Uncertainty Analysis of Landsat Thermal Infrared Sensor 2

Author

Dennis C. Reuter, Matthew Montanaro, Allen W. Lunsford, Joel McCorkel, Brian N. Wenny, Aaron Pearlman, and Boryana Efremova

Subjects
Thermal infrared, Calibration (statistics), Monte Carlo method, Astrophysics::Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, 0211 other engineering and technologies, 02 engineering and technology, Nonlinear calibration, General Earth and Planetary Sciences, Environmental science, Radiometry, Black-body radiation, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Radiometric calibration, Uncertainty analysis, 021101 geological & geomatics engineering, Remote sensing
Abstract

The Thermal Infrared Sensor-2 (TIRS-2) that will be onboard Landsat 9 has undergone a prelaunch testing campaign to characterize its radiometric, spectral, and spatial performances and demonstrate compliance to its requirements. This work reviews the key elements of the instrument-level radiometric testing using an SI-traceable source to derive its uncertainties. Those arising from on-orbit calibration using the TIRS-2 onboard blackbody are also discussed. We use a Monte Carlo approach to propagate the uncertainties through a nonlinear calibration equation and address both random and systematic uncertainty terms. Achieving the required performance demonstrates the instrument’s potential for enhancing our understanding of the Earth’s environment.

Published
2021

5. OSIRIS‐REx Visible and Near‐Infrared Observations of the Moon

Author

Giovanni Poggiali, P. H. Smith, N. Gorius, Josh Emery, Allen W. Lunsford, K. L. Donaldson Hanna, John Robert Brucato, Richard G. Cosentino, Dante S. Lauretta, Daniella DellaGiustina, Dathon Golish, C. Drouet d'Aubigny, Amy Simon, and D. C. Reuter

Subjects
biology, Spacecraft, business.industry, Near-infrared spectroscopy, Terrain, engineering.material, biology.organism_classification, Regolith, Spectral line, Astrobiology, Geophysics, Gravity of Earth, engineering, General Earth and Planetary Sciences, Plagioclase, Osiris, business, Geology
Abstract

The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security Regolith Explorer(OSIRISREx) mission observed the The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security‐Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS‐REx) mission observed the Moon during the spacecraft's Earth gravity assist in 2017. From the spacecraft view, the lunar phase was 42°, and the in‐view hemisphere was dominated by anorthositic highlands terrain. Lunar spectra obtained by the OSIRIS‐REx Visible and InfraRed Spectrometer show evidence of several candidate absorption features. We observe the 2.8‐μm hydration band, confirming the spectral results from other missions, but detected in full‐disk spectra. We also tentatively identify weak spectral features near 0.9 and 1.3 μm, consistent with lunar regolith containing a mixture of plagioclase and orthopyroxene minerals, as expected for highlands terrain.

Published
2019

7. Author Correction: Shape of (101955) Bennu indicative of a rubble pile with internal stiffness

Author

M. Lefevre, Aaron S. Burton, Carina Bennett, J. A. Mapel, Renu Malhotra, Peter Fleming, J. McAdams, N. Mogk, R. L. Ballouz, P. H. Smith, V. Nifo, C. K. Maleszewski, Timothy D. Swindle, E. Dotto, Stephen R. Schwartz, C. May, J. Bayron, D. Patterson, D. Guevel, Ellen S. Howell, Humberto Campins, J. Kissell, E. Brown, J. Wood, E. Muhle, John Robert Brucato, J. Small, B. Miller, Oleksiy Golubov, R. Pennington, K. Harshman, J. Nelson, Catherine Elder, M. McGee, R. Burns, J. Contreras, S. Hull, D. Kubitschek, D. Noss, Andrew J. Liounis, J. Backer, B. May, G. Fitzgibbon, J. Donaldson, D. Worden, Bashar Rizk, R. Witherspoon, Catherine L. Johnson, Erica Jawin, G. Shaw, A. Aqueche, Dolores H. Hill, D. Folta, S. Ferrone, M. Lujan, Giovanni Poggiali, B. G. Williams, S. Selznick, Melissa A. Morris, K. Rios, Sara S. Russell, D. Lambert, J. Hong, Jeffrey B. Plescia, H. Bloomenthal, D. Drinnon, Olivier S. Barnouin, Derek S. Nelson, Amanda E. Toland, Michael C. Moreau, J. A. Seabrook, K. Dill, A. Mirfakhrai, K. Hyde, J. D. P. Deshapriya, Hannah Kaplan, Timothy P. McElrath, Juliette I. Brodbeck, N. Ramos, S. Stewart, James B. Garvin, Sei-ichiro Watanabe, M. Arvizu-Jakubicki, Jason P. Dworkin, Matthew A. Siegler, Collin Lewin, Masatoshi Hirabayashi, L. Bloomquist, S. Gardner, Keiko Nakamura-Messenger, A. H. Nair, M. Schmitzer, P. Haas, Julie Bellerose, Dolan E. Highsmith, L. Koelbel, C. C. Lorentson, J. Zareski, E. Queen, S. R. Chesley, Philip A. Bland, A. Cheuvront, V. E. Hamilton, Ronald G. Mink, N. Mastrodemos, H. C. Connolly, K. Bellamy, M. Killgore, A. Gardner, Y. Takahashi, M. Lambert, R. C. Espiritu, Z. Zeszut, E. T. Morton, Kevin J. Walsh, Timothy D. Glotch, M. Skeen, Brian Kennedy, Matthew R.M. Izawa, G. Neumann, F. Teti, D. Doerres, A. Hasten, F. Ciceri, D. Howell, A. Deguzman, J. Nagy, D. Vaughan, H. Ma, C. Lantz, D. N. Brack, David K. Hammond, Erwan Mazarico, Leilah K. McCarthy, L. Rhoads, Kathleen L. Craft, C. Welch, Jay W. McMahon, C. L. Parish, D. C. Reuter, M. Giuntini, N. Castro, Clive Dickinson, J. Kreiner, K. Kingsbury, S. Dickenshied, Joseph A. Nuth, Alan R. Hildebrand, Erik Asphaug, H. Ido, Eric M. Sahr, A. Harbison, Arlin E. Bartels, T. Forrester, D. Eckart, R. Bandrowski, Michael K. Barker, Robert Gaskell, J. Wendel, S. Freund, Marc Bernacki, Ryan S. Park, A. Taylor, E. B. Bierhaus, S. Millington-Veloza, J. Stromberg, L. B. Breitenfeld, K. Stakkestad, D. Ellis, Timothy J. McCoy, M. Susak, Richard G. Cosentino, C. Manzoni, Hisayoshi Yurimoto, C. Drouet d'Aubigny, A. Bjurstrom, Masako Yoshikawa, S. Francis, J. Peachey, J. Geeraert, K. Marchese, O. Billett, M. Rascon, F. Jaen, B. Diallo, Martin Miner, Kris J. Becker, E. Mazzotta Epifani, Florian Thuillet, A. Knight, James H. Roberts, Pasquale Tricarico, Edward A. Cloutis, T. Fisher, Dale Stanbridge, A. Colpo, Osiris-Rex Team, S. Gonzales, Q. Tran, M. K. Crombie, John Marshall, N. Bojorquez-Murphy, David Vokrouhlický, Allen W. Lunsford, H. Bowles, K. L. Edmundson, R. A. Masterson, Peter G. Antreasian, N. Gorius, Benjamin Rozitis, D. Pino Muñoz, S. Carlson-Kelly, C. Thayer, J. Elsila Cook, B. C. Clark, N. Piacentine, José C. Aponte, M. Al Asad, M. A. Barucci, D. Blum, P. Falkenstern, Neil Bowles, Matthew Chojnacki, J. M. Leonard, J. Daly, K. Yetter, M. R. Fisher, Jeffrey N. Grossman, A. Boggs, N. Jayakody, Cristina A. Thomas, C.M. Ernst, Namrah Habib, J. N. Kidd, R. J. Steele, Andrew B. Calloway, Andrew Ryan, Kimberly T. Tait, Paul O. Hayne, J. Y. Li, K. L. Berry, William V. Boynton, Yanga R. Fernandez, D. A. Lorenz, M. Wasser, Daniel J. Scheeres, K. Fortney, A. Scroggins, B. Allen, B. Sutter, T. Ferro, Jonathan Joseph, Derek C. Richardson, D. Hoak, Brian Carcich, W. Chang, P. Wren, C. Boyles, Kaj E. Williams, B. Marty, J. Liang, J. Hoffman, A. Harch, Daniel R. Wibben, Jamie Molaro, S. Rieger, R. Enos, C. W. Hergenrother, Stephen R. Sutton, J. Grindlay, E. J. Lessac-Chenen, E. Huettner, C. Norman, P. Sherman, L. Swanson, M. Coltrin, S. Van wal, B. Buck, A. Fisher, Kevin Righter, Brian Rush, David D. Rowlands, Lauren McGraw, A. Levine, K. Drozd, D. Gaudreau, A. Nguyen, S. Sides, M. Chodas, R. Dubisher, B. Ashman, Michael Caplinger, Amy Simon, W. Moore, S. S. Balram-Knutson, R. Carpenter, S. Fornasier, Shogo Tachibana, Russell Turner, Ian A. Franchi, Trevor Ireland, Chloe B. Beddingfield, D. F. Everett, M. Corvin, Lindsay P. Keller, Tammy L. Becker, S. Carter, J. L. Rizos Garcia, Mark E. Perry, E. Keates, Michael C. Nolan, P. Vasudeva, C. Fellows, K. Herzog, Mark A. Jenkins, J. R. Weirich, J. Swenson, D. R. Golish, Davide Farnocchia, Lydia C. Philpott, Rebecca R. Ghent, Hannah C.M. Susorney, S. W. Squyres, Pedro Hasselmann, J. Hill, Thomas J. Zega, B. Key, Marco Delbo, A. S. French, P. Sánchez, A. Hilbert, J. Y. Pelgrift, R. P. Binzel, L. McNamara, Vishnu Reddy, Michael Daly, Scott Messenger, Daniella DellaGiustina, Maurizio Pajola, Charles Brunet, Joshua L. Bandfield, J. Padilla, A. Janakus, M. Moreau, R. Garcia, R. A. Chicoine, P. Michel, P. Kaotira, K. S. Johnson, J. Forelli, G. Miller, K. Martin, I. Galinsky, S. Desjardins, Naru Hirata, Christine Hartzell, M. L. Jones, S. Hooven, D. Velez, R. Munoz, Carolyn M. Ernst, C. Emr, N. Martinez-Vlasoff, S. Bendall, R. Zellar, E. Church, Theodore Kareta, T. Warren, P. Wolff, V. Morrison, C. Bryan, S. Bhaskaran, N. Jones, D. Hauf, Jeremy Bauman, R. T. Daly, R. Olds, M. M. Westermann, D. K. Hamara, E. Audi, G. Johnston, Eric Palmer, Courtney Mario, Daniel P. Glavin, T. Haltigin, J. Cutts, Javier Licandro, Xiao-Duan Zou, H. L. Roper, Gregory A. Neumann, William M. Owen, S. Sugita, Y. H. Tang, Kevin Burke, H. L. Enos, D. Gallagher, William F. Bottke, K. Getzandanner, Philip R. Christensen, C. W. V. Wolner, K. Fleshman, D. Poland, J. P. Emery, M.M. Riehl, D. Fennell, D. Sallitt, A. D. Rogers, M. Fitzgibbon, John H. Jones, S. Mullen, S. Salazar, S. Oliver, A. T. Polit, J. Cerna, A. Praet, Mark E. Holdridge, E. M. Ibrahim, Coralie D. Adam, J. de León, Christopher J. Miller, M. Ryle, J. Lyzhoft, M. Loveridge, C. Hoekenga, Brent J. Bos, S. Anwar, K. Chaffin, Devin L. Schrader, B. Lovelace, Romy D. Hanna, C. D. Adam, G. L. Mehall, K. L. Donaldson Hanna, F. Merlin, B. Wright, Guy Libourel, L. F. Lim, N. Shultz, Dante S. Lauretta, K. Hanley, Beth E. Clark, L. Le Corre, K. Thomas-Keprta, Moses Milazzo, W. Hagee, B. Page, M. Fisher, E. McDonough, D. Trang, S. Clemett, A. Rubi, A. Ingegneri, Scott A. Sandford, D. Dean, J. Freemantle, Michael D. Smith, Christopher W. Haberle, L. Nguyen, M. Fulchignoni, Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique (LESIA (UMR_8109)), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Paris (UP), MINES ParisTech - École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL), Centre de Mise en Forme des Matériaux (CEMEF), and Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
[PHYS]Physics [physics], 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Rubble, Stiffness, engineering.material, 010502 geochemistry & geophysics, 01 natural sciences, [SDU]Sciences of the Universe [physics], engineering, medicine, General Earth and Planetary Sciences, Geotechnical engineering, medicine.symptom, Pile, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], Geology, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

International audience

Published
2020

8. The distribution of H 2 O, CH 3 OH, and hydrocarbon-ices on Pluto: Analysis of New Horizons spectral images

Author

Dennis C. Reuter, Bernard Schmitt, Stephen C. Tegler, Anne J. Verbiscer, Harold A. Weaver, Cristina M. Dalle Ore, Jennifer Hanley, Kelsi N. Singer, Kimberly Ennico, Gerrick E. Lindberg, Fatima Alketbi, John Stansberry, S. Philippe, Donald E. Jennings, Richard P. Binzel, Catherine B. Olkin, Logan A. Pearce, Allen W. Lunsford, Carly Howett, Alissa M. Earle, Garrett Thompson, Alex Parker, S. Alan Stern, Jason C. Cook, Silvia Protopapa, Dale P. Cruikshank, William M. Grundy, Leslie A. Young, Southwest Research Institute [Boulder] (SwRI), Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Ephémérides (IMCCE), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Université de Lille-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG), Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Steward observatory, University of Arizona, Department of Space Studies [Boulder], Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory [Laurel, MD] (APL), Pinhead Institute, NASA Ames Research Center (ARC), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Lille-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montréal (UdeM), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG ), Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019])-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019]), and Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES)

Subjects
Materials science, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Imaging spectrometer, [SDU.ASTR.EP]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP], Astrophysics, Surface Composition, 01 natural sciences, 7. Clean energy, Spectral line, Atmosphere, 0103 physical sciences, Absorption (electromagnetic radiation), Spectroscopy, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Image resolution, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Pluto, Infrared observations, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Amorphous solid, Surface, New Horizons mission, Surfaces, 13. Climate action, Space and Planetary Science, composition
Abstract

International audience; On July 14, 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft made its closest approach to Pluto at about 12,000 km from its surface (Stern et al., 2015). Using the LEISA (Linear Etalon Imaging Spectral Array) near-IR imaging spectrometer we obtained two scans across the encounter hemisphere of Pluto at 6-7 km/pixel resolution. By correlating each spectrum with a crystalline H 2 O-ice model, we find several sites on Pluto's surface that exhibit the 1.5, 1.65 and 2.0 µm absorption bands characteristic of H 2 O-ice in the crystalline phase. These sites tend to be isolated and small (≲ 5000 km 2 per site). We note a distinct near-IR blue slope over the LEISA wavelength range and asymmetries in the shape of the 2.0 µm H 2 O-ice band in spectra with weak CH 4-ice bands and strong H 2 O-ice bands. These characteristics are indicative of fine-grain (grain diameters < wavelength or ∼ 1 µm) H 2 O-ice, like that seen in the spectra of Saturnian rings and satellites. However, the best-fit Hapke models require small mass fractions (≲10 −3) of fine-grained H 2 O-ice that we can exchange for other refractory materials in the models with little change in χ 2 , which may mean that the observed blue slope is possibly not due to a fine-grained material but an unidentified material with a similar spectral characteristic. We use these spectra to test for the presence of amorphous H 2 O-ice and estimate crystalline-to-amorphous H 2 O-ice fractions between 30 and 100%, depending on the location. We also see evidence for heavy hydrocarbons via strong absorption at λ > 2.3 µm. Such heavy hydrocarbons are much less volatile than N 2 , CH 4 , and CO at Pluto temperatures. We test for CH 3 OH, C 2 H 6 , C 2 H 4 , and C 3 H 8-ices because they have known optical constants and these ices are likely to arise from UV and energetic particle bombardment of the N 2 , CH 4 , CO-rich surface and atmosphere. Finally, we attempt to estimate the surface temperature using optical constants of pure CH 4 , and H 2 O-ice and best-fit Hapke models. Our standard model gives temperature estimates between 40 and 90 K, while our models including amorphous H 2 O-ice give lower temperature estimates between 30 and 65 K.

Published
2019

9. Initial results from the New Horizons exploration of 2014 MU 69 , a small Kuiper Belt object

Author

J. Fischetti, S. Bhaskaran, Matthias Hahn, Karl Whittenburg, Derek S. Nelson, G. A. Griffith, Amanda M. Zangari, B. J. Buratti, James T. Keane, E. J. Lessac-Chenen, Ralph L. McNutt, Tiffany J. Finley, J. Scherrer, M. A. Ritterbush, M. M. Saina, G. Dunn, T. A. Hill, J. Van Eck, T. Stryk, J. M. Albers, D. C. Reuter, C. M. Dalle Ore, H. A. Elliott, D. J. Schultz, J. Andrews, Douglas P. Hamilton, M. H. Versteeg, Orkan M. Umurhan, Matthew E. Hill, Hai Nguyen, M. Simon, L. Gabasova, D. E. Jennings, D. J. Katz, J. E. Riedel, N. Behrooz, M. N. Fosbury, Henry B. Throop, A. J. Verbiscer, E. Bernardoni, Ross A. Beyer, C. Engelbrecht, Francesca Scipioni, H. L. Winters, Thomas H. Zurbuchen, Carey M. Lisse, Veronica J. Bray, M. G. Ryschkewitsch, Stuart J. Robbins, S. E. Jaskulek, M. C. Kochte, Thomas Mehoke, M. S. Lahr, M. J. Salinas, V. A. Mallder, S. P. Williams, B. H. May, D. M. Mages, C. C. Deboy, Simon B. Porter, Gerhard Kruizinga, Marc W. Buie, Jorge I. Nunez, John Hayes, Peter Kollmann, P. Dharmavaram, J. M. Moore, Darrell F. Strobel, John Stansberry, R. P. Binzel, H. M. Hart, Jillian Redfern, E. W. Stahlheber, H. K. Kang, James L. Green, Anthony F. Egan, Carly Howett, Fran Bagenal, Dale Stanbridge, Chris B. Hersman, C. L. Chavez, Debi Rose, J. Y. Pelgrift, Maria E. Banks, D. C. Schurr, Matthew R. Buckley, L. S. Turner, Ivan Linscott, Kaj E. Williams, J. Eisig, Mihaly Horanyi, Matthew Jones, Mark R. Showalter, William B. McKinnon, Leslie A. Young, E. J. Colwell, Daniel T. Britt, Kirby Runyon, David J. McComas, G. Weigle, Bernard Schmitt, Susan D. Benecchi, Alissa M. Earle, M. J. Kinczyk, Tod R. Lauer, M. R. Piquette, Lori S. Glaze, Carver J. Bierson, L. M. Burke, Brian Carcich, O. S. Custodio, A. Harch, Harold A. Weaver, Dale P. Cruikshank, Oliver L. White, L. E. Brown, William M. Grundy, G. K. Oxton, Chelsea L. Ferrell, David E. Kaufmann, Mohamed Ramy El-Maarry, K. A. Harmon, W. R. Schlei, Eric Quirico, Derek C. Richardson, J. M. Freeze, Jennifer Hanley, R. G. Shelton, Andrew J. Steffl, Mike Bird, H. W. Taylor, Harold J. Reitsema, Stamatios M. Krimigis, D. R. Boone, E. D. Fattig, A. L. Regiec, D. J. Rodgers, Jason D. Hofgartner, D. Velez, Catherine B. Olkin, Kelsi N. Singer, Brian Bauer, Carl J. Ercol, Martin Pätzold, Nicole Martin, Stewart Bushman, J. Firer, Allen W. Lunsford, R. W. Webbert, A. L. Chaikin, Alex Parker, C. A. Conrad, M. P. Conner, S. B. Cooper, Chloe B. Beddingfield, William M. Folkner, J. E. Lee, M. B. Tapley, G. R. Gladstone, D. A. Aguilar, Glen H. Fountain, Emma Birath, Rebecca Sepan, Jeremy Bauman, J. Wm. Parker, S. Weidner, J. R. Jensen, Jason C. Cook, Alan D. Howard, William M. Owen, Andrew F. Cheng, B. L. Enke, Sarah A. Hamilton, Tom Andert, K. B. Beisser, K. E. Bechtold, J. R. Wendel, Rajani D. Dhingra, Paul M. Schenk, Michael E. Summers, J. R. Spencer, D. W. Hals, Silvia Protopapa, A. C. Ocampo, Mark E. Holdridge, S. A. Stern, A. Taylor, R. M. Tedford, G. P. Keleher, Gabe Rogers, Frederic Pelletier, Jj Kavelaars, Yanping Guo, Jon Pineau, Steven J. Conard, Alice Bowman, A. Hosadurga, B. G. Williams, Michael Vincent, David Y. Kusnierkiewicz, Paul E. Rosendall, G. B. Lawrence, J. R. Stuart, M. M. Stothoff, Jr. D. S. Mehoke, Southwest Research Institute [Boulder] (SwRI), Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory [Laurel, MD] (APL), Lowell Observatory [Flagstaff], Space Physics Research Laboratory [Ann Arbor] (SPRL), University of Michigan [Ann Arbor], University of Michigan System-University of Michigan System, SwRI Planetary Science Directorate [Boulder], Universitat de Lleida, Institut für Raumfahrttechnik, Universität der Bundeswehr München [Neubiberg], Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics [Boulder] (LASP), University of Colorado [Boulder], Department of Space Studies [Boulder], Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), NASA-California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG ), Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019])-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019]), Institute of Hydrology, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology [Linköping] (IFM), Linköping University (LIU), Africa Rice Center [Bénin] (AfricaRice), Africa Rice Center [Côte d'Ivoire] (AfricaRice), Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research [CGIAR] (CGIAR)-Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research [CGIAR] (CGIAR), Yonsei University, Galaxies, Etoiles, Physique, Instrumentation (GEPI), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier (CIHEAM-IAMM), Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes (CIHEAM), Princeton University, Reed College, Hanoi National University of Education (HNUE), Rhenish Institute for Environmental Research (RIU), University of Cologne, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences [Manchester] (SEAES), University of Manchester [Manchester], ESA, Southwest Research Institute [San Antonio] (SwRI), NASA Ames Research Center (ARC), Laboratoire pour l'utilisation du rayonnement électromagnétique (LURE), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-MENRT-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Lunar and Planetary Laboratory [Tucson] (LPL), University of Arizona, Johns Hopkins University (JHU), Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (FZU / CAS), Czech Academy of Sciences [Prague] (CAS), Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique Bio-Inorganique et Environnement (LCABIE), Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour (UPPA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Warmia and Mazury [Olsztyn], California Institute of Technology (CALTECH)-NASA, Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG ), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), University of Warmia and Mazury, Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Ephémérides (IMCCE), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Lille-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), inconnu temporaire UPEMLV, Inconnu, INGENIERIE (INGENIERIE), Institut de recherches sur la catalyse et l'environnement de Lyon (IRCELYON), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés Plasmas et Traitement de Surface (ENSCP), PARIS, Africa Rice Center, Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), Institut de pharmacologie moléculaire et cellulaire (IPMC), Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (... - 2019) (UNS), COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015 - 2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015 - 2019) (COMUE UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Université de Lille-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institute of Physics of Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic, and Czech Academy of Sciences [Prague] (ASCR)

Subjects
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP), Solar System, Multidisciplinary, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Spacecraft, business.industry, [SDU.ASTR.EP]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP], FOS: Physical sciences, Astronomy, Coma (optics), Contact binary, Albedo, 01 natural sciences, Object (philosophy), Solar wind, 13. Climate action, 0103 physical sciences, Pebble, business, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Geology, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS, Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

The Kuiper Belt is a distant region of the Solar System. On 1 January 2019, the New Horizons spacecraft flew close to (486958) 2014 MU69, a Cold Classical Kuiper Belt Object, a class of objects that have never been heated by the Sun and are therefore well preserved since their formation. Here we describe initial results from these encounter observations. MU69 is a bi-lobed contact binary with a flattened shape, discrete geological units, and noticeable albedo heterogeneity. However, there is little surface color and compositional heterogeneity. No evidence for satellites, ring or dust structures, gas coma, or solar wind interactions was detected. By origin MU69 appears consistent with pebble cloud collapse followed by a low velocity merger of its two lobes., 43 pages, 8 figure

Published
2019

10. Composition of Pluto’s small satellites: Analysis of New Horizons spectral images

Author

Harold A. Weaver, William M. Grundy, S. Alan Stern, S. Philippe, Dennis C. Reuter, Jason C. Cook, Donald E. Jennings, Bernard Schmitt, Kimberly Ennico, Anne J. Verbiscer, Richard P. Binzel, Catherine B. Olkin, Allen W. Lunsford, Alex Parker, Silvia Protopapa, Richard Cartwright, Alissa M. Earle, Leslie A. Young, Dale P. Cruikshank, John Stansberry, Carly Howett, Cristina M. Dalle Ore, Southwest Research Institute [Boulder] (SwRI), Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Ephémérides (IMCCE), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Université de Lille-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG), Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Steward observatory, University of Arizona, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory [Laurel, MD] (APL), Pinhead Institute, NASA Ames Research Center (ARC), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Lille-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montréal (UdeM), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG ), and Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019])-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019])

Subjects
New horizons, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Hydra, Ammonium nitrate, [SDU.ASTR.EP]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP], Infrared spectroscopy, Astrophysics, 01 natural sciences, Spectral line, chemistry.chemical_compound, satellites, 0103 physical sciences, Spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Kerberos, Physics, Pluto, surface composition, Astronomy and Astrophysics, New Horizons mission, Nix, chemistry, 13. Climate action, Space and Planetary Science, Lernaean Hydra, Composition (visual arts)
Abstract

International audience; On July 14, 2015, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft encountered the Pluto-system. Using the near-infrared spectral imager, New Horizons obtained the first spectra of Nix, Hydra, and Kerberos and detected the 1.5 and 2.0 µm bands of H 2 O-ice on all three satellites. On Nix and Hydra, New Horizons also detected bands at 1.65 and 2.21 µm that indicate crystalline H 2 O-ice and an ammoniated species, respectively. A similar band linked to NH 3-hydrate has been detected on Charon previously. However, we do not detect the 1.99 µm band of NH 3-hydrate. We consider NH 4 Cl (ammonium chloride), NH 4 NO 3 (ammonium nitrate) and (NH 4) 2 CO 3 (ammonium carbonate) as potential candidates, but lack sufficient laboratory measurements of these and other ammoniated species to make a definitive conclusion. We use the observations of Nix and Hydra to estimate the surface temperature and crystalline H 2 O-ice fraction. We find surface temperatures < 20 K ( 30% for Nix an Hydra, respectively. New Horizons observed Nix and Hydra twice, about 2-3 hours apart, or 5 and 25% of their respective rotation periods. We find no evidence for rotational differences in the disk-averaged spectra between the two observations of Nix or Hydra. We perform a pixel-by-pixel analysis of Nix's disk-resolved spectra and find that the surface is consistent with a uniform crystalline H 2 O-ice fraction, and a ∼ 50% variation in the normalized band area of the 2.21 µm band with a minimum associated with the red blotch seen in color images of Nix. Finally, we find evidence for bands on Nix and Hydra at 2.42 and possibly 2.45 µm, which we cannot identify, and, if real, do not appear to be associated with the ammoniated species. We do not detect other ices, such as CO 2 , CH 3 OH and HCN.

Published
2018

11. The Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) on Landsat 8: Design Overview and Pre-Launch Characterization

Author

Murzy D. Jhabvala, Allen W. Lunsford, Richard G. Allen, Dennis C. Reuter, Fernando A. Pellerano, R. Smith, Matthew Montanaro, Kurtis J. Thome, Cathleen Richardson, Martha C. Anderson, James R. Irons, and Zelalem Tesfaye

Subjects
thermal sensors, Thermal infrared, Thermal sensors, Science, TIRS, evapotranspiration, QWIP, Characterization (materials science), Landsat, LDCM, Data continuity, Calibration, General Earth and Planetary Sciences, Environmental science, Remote sensing
Abstract

The Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) on Landsat 8 is the latest thermal sensor in that series of missions. Unlike the previous single-channel sensors, TIRS uses two channels to cover the 10–12.5 micron band. It is also a pushbroom imager; a departure from the previous whiskbroom approach. Nevertheless, the instrument requirements are defined such that data continuity is maintained. This paper describes the design of the TIRS instrument, the results of pre-launch calibration measurements and shows an example of initial on-orbit science performance compared to Landsat 7.

Published
2015

12. Imaging and spectral performance of the New Horizons Ralph instrument during the 2015 Pluto encounter (Conference Presentation)

Author

Dennis C. Reuter, Tony B. Hull, Pascal Hallibert, Dae Wook Kim, S. Alan Stern, G. Weigle, Catherine B. Olkin, Allen W. Lunsford, and Donald E. Jennings

Subjects
Telescope, Pluto, Geography, New horizons, law, Visible imaging, High spatial resolution, Astronomy, Astrophysics, law.invention
Abstract

The Ralph instrument on the New Horizons mission consists of a telescope that feeds two focal planes: the Multi-spectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC), a visible, near-IR imager and the Linear Etalon Imaging Spectral Array (LEISA), a short-wavelength IR spectral imager. During the encounter with the Pluto system in 2015, Ralph operated as expected collecting numerous high spatial resolution images of the main components of the system, Pluto and Charon, as well as the four much smaller objects Hydra, Kerberos, Nix and Styx. New Horizons, launched on January 19, 2006, is the first mission to explore Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs).

Published
2017

13. Surface compositions across Pluto and Charon

Author

Dale P. Cruikshank, Marc W. Buie, William M. Grundy, John R. Spencer, C. M. Dalle Ore, Bonnie J. Buratti, J. Wm. Parker, Silvia Protopapa, Henry B. Throop, Andrew F. Cheng, Bernard Schmitt, C. C. C. Tsang, A. J. Verbiscer, Catherine B. Olkin, Allen W. Lunsford, Jason C. Cook, Leslie A. Young, Paul M. Schenk, John Stansberry, Harold A. Weaver, Ivan Linscott, Eric Quirico, Kimberly Ennico, S. Philippe, Kelsi N. Singer, D. E. Jennings, G. Weigle, Alissa M. Earle, Alex Parker, Ross A. Beyer, Carly Howett, D. C. Reuter, Richard P. Binzel, S. A. Stern, Lowell Observatory [Flagstaff], Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Ephémérides (IMCCE), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Lille-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), NASA-California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), NASA Ames Research Center (ARC), Southwest Research Institute [Boulder] (SwRI), University of Victoria [Canada] (UVIC), Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), Harvard University-Smithsonian Institution, Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG ), Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019])-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019]), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), and SwRI Planetary Science Directorate [Boulder]

Subjects
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Outcrop, FOS: Physical sciences, 01 natural sciences, Charon, Astrobiology, Latitude, Impact crater, 0103 physical sciences, Glacial period, Ejecta, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Physics, Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP), Pluton, geography, Multidisciplinary, geography.geographical_feature_category, Bedrock, Pluto, Surface, New Horizons mission, composition, [SDU]Sciences of the Universe [physics], Protoplanet, Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Abstract

The New Horizons spacecraft mapped colors and infrared spectra across the encounter hemispheres of Pluto and Charon. The volatile ices CH$_4$, CO, and N$_2$, that dominate Pluto's surface, have complicated spatial distributions resulting from sublimation, condensation, and glacial flow acting over seasonal and geological timescales. Pluto's H$_2$O ice "bedrock" is also mapped, with isolated outcrops occurring in a variety of settings. Pluto's surface exhibits complex regional color diversity associated with its distinct provinces. Charon's color pattern is simpler, dominated by neutral low latitudes and a reddish northern polar region. Charon near infrared spectra reveal highly localized areas with strong NH$_3$ absorption tied to small craters with relatively fresh-appearing impact ejecta., Comment: in Science 351, aad9189 (2016)

Published
2016

14. Inflight Radiometric Calibration of New Horizons' Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC)

Author

Ross A. Beyer, Bonnie J. Buratti, Carly Howett, R. P. Binzel, Silvia Protopapa, Joel Wm. Parker, Dale P. Cruikshank, G. Weigle, Harold A. Weaver, A.L. Graps, S. A. Stern, Paul M. Schenk, Alissa M. Earle, Marc W. Buie, Bernard Schmitt, S. Phillippe, Constantine Tsang, Alex Parker, Kelsi N. Singer, D. C. Reuter, C. M. Dalle Ore, Catherine B. Olkin, Andrew F. Cheng, Allen W. Lunsford, D. E. Jennings, Eric Quirico, K.P. Harrison, Simon B. Porter, John R. Spencer, Kimberly Ennico, Leslie A. Young, Jason C. Cook, William M. Grundy, Ivan Linscott, Henry B. Throop, J. R. Lovering, A. J. Verbiscer, and John Stansberry

Subjects
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Multispectral image, FOS: Physical sciences, Field of view, 01 natural sciences, Optics, 0103 physical sciences, Calibration, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Radiometric calibration, Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM), 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Remote sensing, Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP), Pixel, business.industry, Detector, Astrophysics::Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Planetary Data System, Panchromatic film, Space and Planetary Science, Environmental science, Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, business, Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Abstract

© 2016 Elsevier Inc. We discuss two semi-independent calibration techniques used to determine the inflight radiometric calibration for the New Horizons’ Multi-spectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC). The first calibration technique compares the measured number of counts (DN) observed from a number of well calibrated stars to those predicted using the component-level calibration. The ratio of these values provides a multiplicative factor that allows a conversation between the preflight calibration to the more accurate inflight one, for each detector. The second calibration technique is a channel-wise relative radiometric calibration for MVIC's blue, near-infrared and methane color channels using Hubble and New Horizons observations of Charon and scaling from the red channel stellar calibration. Both calibration techniques produce very similar results (better than 7% agreement), providing strong validation for the techniques used. Since the stellar calibration described here can be performed without a color target in the field of view and covers all of MVIC's detectors, this calibration was used to provide the radiometric keyword values delivered by the New Horizons project to the Planetary Data System (PDS). These keyword values allow each observation to be converted from counts to physical units; a description of how these keyword values were generated is included. Finally, mitigation techniques adopted for the gain drift observed in the near-infrared detector and one of the panchromatic framing cameras are also discussed.

Published
2016
Full Text
View/download PDF

15. SPECTRAL ANALYSIS OF PLUTO'S WATER-ICE RICH SPOTS AT NEAR INFRARED WAVELENGTHS

Author

Kelsi N. Singer, J. A. Stansberry, R. P. Binzel, D. E. Jennings, Dale P. Cruikshank, Alex Parker, Alissa M. Earle, Bernard Schmitt, Silvia Protopapa, Cathy Olkin, Leslie A. Young, S. Philippe, C.J.Α. Howett, Allen W. Lunsford, D. C. Reuter, C. M. Dalle Ore, A. J. Verbiscer, Kimberly Ennico, Harold A. Weaver, S. Alan Stern, Jason C. Cook, and William M. Grundy

Subjects
Pluto, Wavelength, Spots, Near-infrared spectroscopy, Astronomy, Spectral analysis, Water ice, Geology, Astrobiology
Published
2016

16. WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED ABOUT CHARON FROM NEW HORIZONS?

Author

Ivan Linscott, D. C. Reuter, C. M. Dalle Ore, Tod R. Lauer, Mark R. Showalter, Dale P. Cruikshank, Bernard Schmitt, Amanda M. Zangari, R. P. Binzel, Stephan Stern, Cathy Olkin, J. Wm. Parker, C. M. Lisse, Allen W. Lunsford, Orkan M. Umurhan, A. J. Verbiscer, Harold A. Weaver, Francis Nimmo, G. L. Tyler, Harold J. Reitsema, Stuart J. Robbins, Ross A. Beyer, Kimberly Ennico, William M. Grundy, J. R. Spencer, J. A. Stansberry, C. C. C. Tsang, Leslie A. Young, D. E. Jennings, J. M. Moore, Kelsi N. Singer, S. Philippe, Jason C. Cook, C.J.Α. Howett, Francesca Scipioni, Veronica J. Bray, William B. McKinnon, K. L. Berry, Alissa M. Earle, Allen C. Cheng, R.I. Kaiser, Alex Parker, B. J. Buratti, Paul M. Schenk, Oliver L. White, Silvia Protopapa, Eric Quirico, and M. W. Buie

Subjects
New horizons, Astronomy, Geology, Astrobiology
Published
2016

17. The Pluto system: Initial results from its exploration by New Horizons

Author

Darrell F. Strobel, James L. Green, Mark R. Showalter, Francis Nimmo, C. Bryan, Richard P. Binzel, M. J. Freeze, Matthew R. Buckley, Matthew E. Hill, Stewart Bushman, Chris B. Hersman, Brian Carcich, Kirby Runyon, Leslie A. Young, Douglas S. Mehoke, Jeremy Bauman, S. Weidner, Nickalaus Pinkine, William M. Grundy, Robert A. Jacobson, V. A. Mallder, Thomas K. Greathouse, H. K. Kang, Ralph L. McNutt, S. Bhaskaran, Dale P. Cruikshank, Marc W. Buie, D. C. Reuter, William M. Owen, Andrew F. Cheng, Peter D. Bedini, C. M. Dalle Ore, Mihaly Horanyi, Alice Bowman, Tiffany J. Finley, David P. Hinson, Harold A. Weaver, David J. McComas, Max Mutchler, Yanping Guo, Oliver L. White, R. W. Webbert, D. E. Jennings, Olivier S. Barnouin, Jennifer Hanley, Harold J. Reitsema, B. Page, K. L. Lindstrom, Catherine B. Olkin, Jorge I. Nunez, M. E. Banks, Carey M. Lisse, A. Hill, John R. Spencer, Coralie D. Jackman, G. R. Gladstone, E. D. Melin, Allen W. Lunsford, M. H. Versteeg, Eric J. Zirnstein, Emma Birath, Thomas Mehoke, Joel Wm. Parker, H. M. Hart, Jane M. Andrews, Zach Dischner, Derek S. Nelson, Amanda M. Zangari, Kurt D. Retherford, Veronica J. Bray, Andrew J. Steffl, M. Piquette, Douglas P. Hamilton, Mike Bird, Stamatios M. Krimigis, Kaj E. Williams, Matthias Hahn, Karl Whittenburg, C. A. Conrad, Kelsi N. Singer, Steven J. Conard, J. E. Lee, Silvia Protopapa, B. G. Williams, Constantine Tsang, Orkan M. Umurhan, Kimberly Ennico, Glen H. Fountain, J. M. Moore, Carolyn M. Ernst, J. Peterson, J. Ercol, Jason C. Cook, Alan D. Howard, H. A. Elliott, Michael Vincent, David Y. Kusnierkiewicz, O. S. Custodio, M. G. Ryschkewitsch, Sarah A. Hamilton, D. J. Bogan, Eric Schindhelm, M. Brozovic, K. B. Beisser, Mark E. Holdridge, James H. Roberts, S. A. Stern, M. B. Tapley, Simon B. Porter, A. Harch, W. W. Woods, B. Bauer, Debi Rose, S. P. Williams, Alex Parker, Philip J. Dumont, Sarah H. Flanigan, Gabe Rogers, Dale Stanbridge, Ivan Linscott, Frederic Pelletier, B. Sepan, Andrew B. Calloway, Jamey Szalay, Tod R. Lauer, Jillian Redfern, Martin Paetzold, Tom Andert, A. J. Verbiscer, Paul M. Schenk, Nicole Martin, Michael E. Summers, Stuart J. Robbins, H. W. Taylor, A. C. Ocampo, Bonnie J. Buratti, A. Taylor, William B. McKinnon, G. Weigle, Alissa M. Earle, David E. Kaufmann, M. Soluri, T. Stryk, Henry B. Throop, Fran Bagenal, G. L. Tyler, Ross A. Beyer, C. C. Deboy, Peter Kollmann, Carly Howett, and Joshua A. Kammer

Subjects
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP), geography, Multidisciplinary, geography.geographical_feature_category, Haze, Landform, FOS: Physical sciences, Terrain, Crust, Astrobiology, Atmosphere, Pluto, Tectonics, Planet, Geology, Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Abstract

The Pluto system was recently explored by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, making closest approach on 14 July 2015. Pluto's surface displays diverse landforms, terrain ages, albedos, colors, and composition gradients. Evidence is found for a water-ice crust, geologically young surface units, surface ice convection, wind streaks, volatile transport, and glacial flow. Pluto's atmosphere is highly extended, with trace hydrocarbons, a global haze layer, and a surface pressure near 10 microbars. Pluto's diverse surface geology and long-term activity raise fundamental questions about how small planets remain active many billions of years after formation. Pluto's large moon Charon displays tectonics and evidence for a heterogeneous crustal composition, its north pole displays puzzling dark terrain. Small satellites Hydra and Nix have higher albedos than expected., 8 pages - Initial Science paper from NASA's New Horizons Pluto Encounter

Published
2015

18. The Global Color of Pluto from New Horizons

Author

Silvia Protopapa, Paul M. Schenk, Dennis C. Reuter, Alex Parker, S. Alan Stern, I. Linscott, Kelsi N. Singer, John R. Spencer, Eddie Weigle, Harold A. Weaver, Kimberly Ennico, Cristina M. Dalle Ore, Leslie A. Young, Catherine B. Olkin, Dale P. Cruikshank, Allen W. Lunsford, Marc W. Buie, Bernard Schmitt, Donald E. Jennings, Richard P. Binzel, William M. Grundy, Jason C. Cook, Alissa M. Earle, Ross A. Beyer, and Carly Howett

Subjects
Physics, Pluto, New horizons, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Space and Planetary Science, 0103 physical sciences, Astronomy and Astrophysics, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, 01 natural sciences, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Astrobiology
Published
2017

19. Radiometric Calibration Methodology of the Landsat 8 Thermal Infrared Sensor

Author

Dennis C. Reuter, Matthew Montanaro, Brian N. Wenny, Allen W. Lunsford, and Zelalem Tesfaye

Subjects
Thermal infrared, Calibration (statistics), business.industry, Stray light, Science, TIRS, Process (computing), radiometric calibration, Signal, Absolute calibration, Optics, Radiance, General Earth and Planetary Sciences, Environmental science, business, Landsat, Radiometric calibration, Remote sensing
Abstract

The science-focused mission of the Landsat 8 Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) requires that it have an accurate radiometric calibration. A calibration methodology was developed to convert the raw output from the instrument into an accurate at-aperture radiance. The methodology is based on measurements obtained during component-level and instrument-level characterization testing. The radiometric accuracy from the pre-flight measurements was estimated to be approximately 0.7%. The calibration parameters determined pre-flight were updated during the post-launch checkout period by utilizing the on-board calibration sources and Earth scene data. These relative corrections were made to adjust for differences between the pre-flight and the on-orbit performance of the instrument, thereby correcting large striping artifacts observed in Earth imagery. Despite this calibration correction, banding artifacts (low frequency variation in the across-track direction) have been observed in certain uniform Earth scenes, but not in other uniform scenes. In addition, the absolute calibration performance determined from vicarious measurements have revealed a time-varying error to the absolute radiance reported by TIRS. These issues were determined to not be caused by the calibration process developed for the instrument. Instead, an investigation has revealed that stray light is affecting the recorded signal from the Earth. The varying optical stray light effect is an ongoing subject of evaluation and investigation, and a correction strategy is being devised that will be added to the calibration process.

Published
2014
Full Text
View/download PDF

20. Jupiter Cloud Composition, Stratification, Convection, and Wave Motion: A View from New Horizons

Author

Kevin H. Baines, Leslie A. Young, Amy A. Simon-Miller, Dennis C. Reuter, S. A. Stern, John R. Spencer, Andrew F. Cheng, Harold A. Weaver, Catherine B. Olkin, Allen W. Lunsford, and D. E. Jennings

Subjects
Convection, Ice cloud, Multidisciplinary, Extraterrestrial Environment, Atmosphere, Infrared, Atmospheric wave, Temperature, Mesoscale meteorology, Stratification (water), Atmospheric sciences, Wavelength, Ammonia, Jupiter, Physics::Space Physics, Upwelling, Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, Spacecraft, Physics::Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics, Geology
Abstract

Several observations of Jupiter's atmosphere made by instruments on the New Horizons spacecraft have implications for the stability and dynamics of Jupiter's weather layer. Mesoscale waves, first seen by Voyager, have been observed at a spatial resolution of 11 to 45 kilometers. These waves have a 300-kilometer wavelength and phase velocities greater than the local zonal flow by 100 meters per second, much higher than predicted by models. Additionally, infrared spectral measurements over five successive Jupiter rotations at spatial resolutions of 200 to 140 kilometers have shown the development of transient ammonia ice clouds (lifetimes of 40 hours or less) in regions of strong atmospheric upwelling. Both of these phenomena serve as probes of atmospheric dynamics below the visible cloud tops.

Published
2007

22. Io volcanism seen by new horizons: a major eruption of the Tvashtar volcano

Author

S. A. Stern, Kurt D. Retherford, Jeffrey M. Moore, Christophe Dumas, Harold A. Weaver, Allen W. Lunsford, John R. Spencer, A. F. Cheng, Oleg Abramov, Kandis Lea Jessup, Rosaly M. C. Lopes, Dennis C. Reuter, Paul M. Schenk, Franck Marchis, L. W. Kamp, Jason Perry, and Mark R. Showalter

Subjects
Basalt, geography, Multidisciplinary, New horizons, geography.geographical_feature_category, Volcanism, Physics::Geophysics, Plume, Astrobiology, Volcanic plume, Volcano, Physics::Space Physics, Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, Physics::Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics, Geology
Abstract

Jupiter's moon Io is known to host active volcanoes. In February and March 2007, the New Horizons spacecraft obtained a global snapshot of Io's volcanism. A 350-kilometer-high volcanic plume was seen to emanate from the Tvashtar volcano (62°N, 122°W), and its motion was observed. The plume's morphology and dynamics support nonballistic models of large Io plumes and also suggest that most visible plume particles condensed within the plume rather than being ejected from the source. In images taken in Jupiter eclipse, nonthermal visible-wavelength emission was seen from individual volcanoes near Io's sub-Jupiter and anti-Jupiter points. Near-infrared emission from the brightest volcanoes indicates minimum magma temperatures in the 1150- to 1335-kelvin range, consistent with basaltic composition.

Published
2007

23. Polar lightning and decadal-scale cloud variability on Jupiter

Author

Leslie A. Young, Harold A. Weaver, Andrew F. Cheng, Joseph L. Hora, Jeffrey M. Moore, S. Alan Stern, Brendan Fisher, Glenn S. Orton, John R. Spencer, Thomas W. Momary, Padma Yanamandra-Fisher, Henry B. Throop, Amy A. Simon-Miller, G. R. Gladstone, Michael E. Ressler, Kevin H. Baines, Allen W. Lunsford, Dennis C. Reuter, and Donald E. Jennings

Subjects
Convection, Multidisciplinary, Cloud cover, Flux, Atmospheric sciences, Lightning, Physics::Geophysics, Latitude, Jupiter, Planet, Physics::Space Physics, Great Red Spot, Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, Astrophysics::Galaxy Astrophysics, Physics::Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics, Geology
Abstract

Although lightning has been seen on other planets, including Jupiter, polar lightning has been known only on Earth. Optical observations from the New Horizons spacecraft have identified lightning at high latitudes above Jupiter up to 80°N and 74°S. Lightning rates and optical powers were similar at each pole, and the mean optical flux is comparable to that at nonpolar latitudes, which is consistent with the notion that internal heat is the main driver of convection. Both near-infrared and ground-based 5-micrometer thermal imagery reveal that cloud cover has thinned substantially since the 2000 Cassini flyby, particularly in the turbulent wake of the Great Red Spot and in the southern half of the equatorial region, demonstrating that vertical dynamical processes are time-varying on seasonal scales at mid- and low latitudes on Jupiter.

Published
2007

24. New horizons mapping of Europa and Ganymede

Author

Jeffrey M. Moore, William M. Grundy, Dennis C. Reuter, Paul M. Schenk, Harold A. Weaver, Catherine B. Olkin, Allen W. Lunsford, Andrew F. Cheng, John R. Spencer, Bonnie J. Buratti, S. A. Stern, S. Newman, Joshua P. Emery, William B. McKinnon, and Henry B. Throop

Subjects
Multidisciplinary, New horizons, Spacecraft, Extraterrestrial Environment, business.industry, Infrared, Ice, Water, Icy moon, Physics::Geophysics, Astrobiology, Jupiter, Wavelength, Exploration of Jupiter, Physics::Space Physics, Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, business, Absorption (electromagnetic radiation), Geology
Abstract

The New Horizons spacecraft observed Jupiter's icy satellites Europa and Ganymede during its flyby in February and March 2007 at visible and infrared wavelengths. Infrared spectral images map H 2 O ice absorption and hydrated contaminants, bolstering the case for an exogenous source of Europa's “non-ice” surface material and filling large gaps in compositional maps of Ganymede's Jupiter-facing hemisphere. Visual wavelength images of Europa extend knowledge of its global pattern of arcuate troughs and show that its surface scatters light more isotropically than other icy satellites.

Published
2007

25. Io's atmospheric response to eclipse: UV aurorae observations

Author

Andrew J. Steffl, Joachim Saur, Harold A. Weaver, Dennis C. Reuter, Michael W. Davis, Darrell F. Strobel, S. A. Stern, John R. Spencer, Leslie A. Young, David C. Slater, Rosaly M. C. Lopes, S. J. Conard, M. H. Versteeg, Kurt D. Retherford, Allen W. Lunsford, A. F. Cheng, Jeffrey M. Moore, J. Wm. Parker, Fran Bagenal, Henry B. Throop, and G. R. Gladstone

Subjects
Physics, geography, Brightness, Multidisciplinary, geography.geographical_feature_category, New horizons, Spacecraft, business.industry, Astrophysics::High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena, Magnetosphere, Astronomy, Astrophysics::Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics, medicine.disease_cause, Volcano, Hubble space telescope, Physics::Space Physics, medicine, Astrophysics::Solar and Stellar Astrophysics, Sublimation (phase transition), Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, business, Ultraviolet
Abstract

The New Horizons (NH) spacecraft observed Io's aurora in eclipse on four occasions during spring 2007. NH Alice ultraviolet spectroscopy and concurrent Hubble Space Telescope ultraviolet imaging in eclipse investigate the relative contribution of volcanoes to Io's atmosphere and its interaction with Jupiter's magnetosphere. Auroral brightness and morphology variations after eclipse ingress and egress reveal changes in the relative contribution of sublimation and volcanic sources to the atmosphere. Brightnesses viewed at different geometries are best explained by a dramatic difference between the dayside and nightside atmospheric density. Far-ultraviolet aurora morphology reveals the influence of plumes on Io's electrodynamic interaction with Jupiter's magnetosphere. Comparisons to detailed simulations of Io's aurora indicate that volcanoes supply 1 to 3% of the dayside atmosphere.

Published
2007

Catalog

Books, media, physical & digital resources
See catalog results