Surface Exposure Ages of Space-Weathered Grains from Asteroid 25143 ItokawaWe use the observed effects of solar wind ion irradiation and the accumulation of solar flare particle tracks recorded in Itokawa grains to constrain the rates of space weathering and yield information about regolith dynamics. The track densities are consistent with exposure at mm depths for 104-105 years. The solar wind damaged rims form on a much faster timescale, <10(exp 3) years.
Document ID
20150010432
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Keller, L. P. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Berger, E. L. (Jacobs Technologies Engineering Science Contract Group Houston, TX, United States)
Christoffersen, R. (Jacobs Technologies Engineering Science Contract Group Houston, TX, United States)