ALBERT

Description: Experimental studies indicate that opaque assemblages rich in refractory siderophile elements were formed within host calcium- and aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs) by exsolution, oxidation and sulphidization of homogeneous alloys, rather than by aggregation of materials in the solar nebula before the formation of CAIs. These opaque assemblages are thus not the oldest known solid materials, as was once thought, and they do not constrain processes in the early solar nebula before CAI formation. Instead, the assemblages record the changing oxygen fugacity experienced by CAIs during slow cooling in nebular and/or planetary environments.

Description: The first results of a program to determine the longitudinal distribution of volcanic activity on Jupiter's satellite Io are presented. Infrared measurements at 8.7, 10, and 20 micrometers have been taken at a variety of orbital longitudes: strong variation in the 8.7- and 10-micrometer flux with longitude demonstrates that infrared emission arising from volcanic hotspots on Io is strongly concentrated in a few locations. Analysis of these data suggests that the active volcanic regions observed by the Voyager experimenters are still active, particularly the region around the feature known as Loki. Another source of flux, although of somewhat smaller magnitude, is indicated on the opposite hemisphere. If these sources are the only major volcanic centers on Io, then current global heat flow estimates must be revised downward. However, heat flow from as yet unobserved longitudes, hotspots at high latitudes, and conducted heat flow must still be measured.

Description: Several remote sensing techniques have been developed to determine various properties of lava flows. We are currently focusing on three such techniques to interpret Martian lava flows on Alba Patera, which are based on measurements of distal flow lobe widths which can be used to infer silica content; convolution of flow margins which can distinguish between pahoehoe and a'a types of basaltic flows; final flow field dimensions which can be combined with ground slope to derive effusion duration and average effusion rate. These methods are extremely complementary and together provide a more significant and complete understanding of extra-terrestrial lava flows. However, each of these techniques have specific and distinct data requirements.

Description: During the Galileo spacecraft encounter with the Earth-Moon system in December, 1992, a variety of spectral data and imagery were obtained for the eastern limb region as well as much of the lunar nearside. In order to support this encounter, we have been collecting near-infrared spectra and other remote sensing data for that portion of the northeastern nearside (NEM region) for which the highest resolution Galileo data were obtained. Analysis of spectra obtained for highlands units in the NEN region indicates that most surface units are dominated by anorthositic norite. To date, no pure anorthosites have been identified in the region. Several dark-haloed impact craters have exposed mare material from beneath highlands-rich surface units. Hence, ancient mare volcanism occurred in at least a portion of the NEN region. Endogenic dark-haloed craters in the region are the source of localized dark mantle deposits (LDMD) of pyroclastic origin and at least two compositional groups are present. The Galileo spacecraft obtained very high-resolution remote sensing data for the northeastern part of the nearside of the Moon. In order to prepare for and support this encounter, we have collected and analyzed a variety of spectral data for the NEN region. Numerous unanswered questions exist for this region. These include: (1) the composition and stratigraphy of the local highlands crust, (2) the nature and mode of formation of regional light plains, (3) the composition of localized pyroclastic deposits, and (4) the distribution of possible cryptomare in the region. The purpose of this paper is to present the preliminary results of our analyzes of remote sensing data of remote sensing data obtained for the NEN region.

Description: Abundances of the titanium isotopes were determined using a new high-precision technique that shows terrestrial, lunar, and bulk meteorite samples to be indistinguishable. Ca-Al-Ti-rich inclusions in the Allende meteorite are found to contain Ti of widely varying isotopic composition reflecting the presence of at least three nucleosynthetic components. The anomalies in Ti appear to be relatively widespread and, when correlated with Ca data, provide a clue to nucleosynthesis in the neighborhood of the iron peak and to the late-stage nucleosynthetic processes which immediately preceded formation of the solar nebula.

Description: This review compares the types of compositional information produced by three complementary techniques used in infrared observations of asteroid surfaces: broadband JHKL photometry, narrow band photometry, and multiplex spectroscopy. The high information content of these infrared observations permits definitive interpretations of asteroid surface compositions in terms of the major meteoritic minerals (olivine, pyroxene, plagioclase feldspar, hydrous silicates, and metallic Ni-Fe). These studies emphasize the individuality of asteroid surface compositions, the inadequacy of simple comparisons with spectra of meteorites, and the need to coordinate spectral measurements of all types to optimize diagnostic capabilities.

Description: Airborne ultraviolet studies of Venus were carried out during the NASA-ESO Space Shuttle simulation program. The primary wavelength region monitored was between 2950 and 3350 A in the third order. Measurements of solar radiation reflected from Venus were obtained on five flights at elevation angles of 15-30 deg. Direct solar and lunar spectra were obtained for the same elevation angles during two of the flights. Typical solar and Venutian spectra are presented.

Description: A portion of the highlands terrain northwest of the Humorum basin, a large multiringed impact structure on the southwestern portion of the lunar nearside, exhibits anomalous characteristics in several remote sensing data sets. A variety of remote sensing studies of the terrain northwest of Humorum basin were performed in order to determine the composition and origin of the anomalous unit as well as the composition of the highland material exposed by the Humorum impact event. It was found that at least a portion of the mare-bounding ring of Humorum is composed of pure anorthosite. Other details of the study are reported.

Description: Both visual and near-infrared spectral observations are combined with multispectral imaging to study the Orientale interior and exterior, the Cruger region, Grimaldi Region, the Schiller-Schickard Region, and the Humorum Region of the Moon. It was concluded that anorthosites occur in the Inner Rook Mountains of Orientale, the inner ring of Grimaldi, and the main ring of Humorum. Imaging spectroscopy shows that the entire eastern Inner Rook Mountains are composed of anorthosites. Orientale ejecta are strikingly like the surface materials in the region where Apollo 16 landed. This similarity indicates similar mineralogy, i.e., noritic anorthosite. Thus, Orientile ejecta is more mafic than the Inner Rook Mountains. This situation is also true for the Nectaris, Humorum, and Gramaldi basins. Isolated areas of the Orientale region show the presence of gabbroic rocks, but, in general, Orientale ejecta are noritic anorthosites, which contain much more low-Ca pyroxene than high-Ca pyroxene. Ancient (pre-Orientale) mare volcanism apparently occurred in several areas of the western limb.