Characterization of Asteroidal Basalts through Reflectance Spectroscopy and Implications for the Dawn MissionThere are currently five known groups of basaltic achondrites that represent material from distinct differentiated parent bodies. These are the howardite-eucrite-diogenite (HED) clan, mesosiderite silicates, angrites, Ibitira, and Northwest Africa (NWA) 011 [1]. Spectroscopically all these basaltic achondrite groups have absorption bands located near 1 and 2 microns due to the presence of pyroxene. Some of these meteorite types have spectra that are quite similar, but nevertheless have characteristics (e.g. spectral slope, band depths, etc.) that may be used to differentiate them from each other.
Document ID
20060020741
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Extended Abstract
Authors
Abell, P. A. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Mittlefehdlt, D. W. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Gaffey, M. J. (North Dakota Univ. Grand Forks, ND, United States)