Planetary Musings http://blog.case.edu/sah33/ Things I am working on, reading, teaching, or just musing about... en-us Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:06:17 EST Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:06:17 EST hauckjunk at case.edu steven.hauck@case.edu http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Movable Type v3.121 Video on MESSENGER 1st flyby of Mercury http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2008/04/11/video_on_messenger_1st_flyby_of_mercury The American Museum of Natural History just released this great Science Bulletin video story highlighting the MESSENGER mission and the... http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2008/04/11/video_on_messenger_1st_flyby_of_mercury Mercury Planetary Science Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:06:17 EST The American Museum of Natural History just released this great Science Bulletin video story highlighting the MESSENGER mission and the 1st flyby of Mercury back in January.

]]> Iron snow on Mercury http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2008/04/11/iron_snow_on_mercury One of the active areas of research in our group is developing understanding of mechanisms that can drive convection inside... http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2008/04/11/iron_snow_on_mercury Geodynamics MESSENGER Mercury Planetary Science Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:12:49 EST One of the active areas of research in our group is developing understanding of mechanisms that can drive convection inside the metallic cores of solid planets and moons. Why? To understand what may be driving magnetic fields. Previously, we had demonstrated that in contrast to the Earth, Ganymede's magnetic field could be the result of solid iron precipitating at the core-mantle boundary and "snowing" inward, driving compositional convection. Based on new experimental results by colleagues Bin Chen and Jie Li at the University of Illinois we have shown that a similar set of results is possible for Mercury. The effect at Mercury is pronounced by non-ideal melting behavior of the Fe-FeS system at modest pressures. Indeed, it turns out that Mercury could also evolve to a state of having to distinct and separated zones of snowing iron in its core. All of these results will be useful in understanding the results that will be gained by the MESSENGER mission to Mercury once it gets into orbit.


Citation:
Chen, Bin, Jie Lie, and Steven A. Hauck, II, Non-ideal liquidus curve in the Fe-FeS system and Mercury's snowing core , Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L07201, doi: 10.1029/2008GL033311 (2008). Article

]]> Graduate Study in Earth and Planetary Science http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2007/11/14/graduate_study_in_earth_and_planetary_science The Department of Geological Sciences at Case Western Reserve University is currently accepting applications from students interested in pursuing graduate... http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2007/11/14/graduate_study_in_earth_and_planetary_science Case Earth Ganymede Geological Sciences Graduate Study Icy satellites MESSENGER Mars Mercury Moon Planetary Science Venus Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:52:34 EST The Department of Geological Sciences at Case Western Reserve University is currently accepting applications from students interested in pursuing graduate studies leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in the earth, environmental, and planetary sciences. The Department offers flexible, research-intensive programs for graduate students. Applications are accepted on a continuing basis, though students requesting financial support are strongly encouraged to apply by February 1, 2008. Online applications are available through the School of Graduate Studies.

There are several opportunities for students interested in pursuing research in planetary science, particularly in the areas of planetary geology and geophysics, high-pressure and temperature geochemistry, and meteorites working with a group of faculty that includes myself, Prof. Harvey, and Prof. Van Orman.

At present I am collaborating with students to (1) understand the nature of Mars' crust and lithosphere and tectonic activity and (2) the mechanisms responsible for driving Ganymede's magnetic field. (3) I am also looking for graduate students interested in working with me on analyzing data from the MESSENGER Mission to Mercury to understand both the internal and tectonic evolution of that planet Additional opportunities within these may be available depending upon interest. We are also in the process of focusing new study on large lunar impact basins.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss opportunities for graduate study in planetary science and/or geophysics with interested students (my contact info is available on my webpage).

]]> Predicted recovery of Mercury's internal structure by MESSENGER http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2007/09/27/predicted_recovery_of_mercurys_internal_structure_by_messenger A major focus of research in our group over the last several years and now looking forward with our involvement... http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2007/09/27/predicted_recovery_of_mercurys_internal_structure_by_messenger Geodynamics MESSENGER Planetary Science Thu, 27 Sep 2007 20:35:51 EST A major focus of research in our group over the last several years and now looking forward with our involvement with the MESSENGER is the planet Mercury. A question of primary interest to the scientific community is the origin of the planet's large bulk density and the nature of its core. Recent work by Jean Luc Margot of Cornell and colleagues recently demonstrated that Mercury likely has a core that is at least partially molten. This is an important advance, and the MESSENGER mission will bring more, particularly through measurement of the planet's low-degree gravity field.

In preparation for MESSENGER's arrival we have calculated a series of models of Mercury's internal structure in order to estimate how well new data will constrain the state of the interior. Working with Sean Solomon (CIW) and Derek Smith (former Case student now pursuing a Ph.D. at Dartmouth) we have calculated that within current estimates of the quality of MESSENGER's forthcoming measurements that it may be possible to determine the size and density of Mercury's core and mantle with considerable confidence, especially for a body for which we have no samples and placed no landers nor seismometers on its surface.

The results of this work were recently published in Geophysical Research Letters.

Hauck, Steven A., II, Sean C. Solomon and Derek A. Smith, Predicted recovery of Mercury's internal structure by MESSENGER, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L18201, doi: 10.1029/2007GL030793 (2007). Article

]]> Venus 2 Flyby a Success http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2007/06/06/venus_2_flyby_a_success MESSENGER's second flyby of Venus yesterday was a success! The spacecraft whizzed by the cloud tops at more than 30,000... http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2007/06/06/venus_2_flyby_a_success Venus Wed, 06 Jun 2007 08:56:05 EST MESSENGER's second flyby of Venus yesterday was a success! The spacecraft whizzed by the cloud tops at more than 30,000 miles per hour and changed its velocity by more than 15,000 miles per hour all to alter its orbit in preparation for its date with Mercury. Congratulations to the whole team of MESSENGER that designed, built and operates the mission!

The first data should start coming down on June 7-8 and then we can start learning what these new data tell us about our sister planet as well as fine-tune anything we need to in time for the first flyby of Mercury in 33 years next January.

More details are in the public press release from APL and at the MESSENGER website and NASA's MESSENGER webpage.

]]> Venus Flyby 2 http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2007/06/02/venus_flyby_2 Late in the afternoon on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 the MESSENGER spacecraft is going to slingshot around Venus for the... http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2007/06/02/venus_flyby_2 Planetary Science Venus Sat, 02 Jun 2007 21:00:00 EST Late in the afternoon on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 the MESSENGER spacecraft is going to slingshot around Venus for the second time on it way to Mercury. The spacecraft will use Venus' gravity to assist in its journey to the solar system's inner most planet. During the first flyby of Venus last October the planet was on the far side of Sun from Earth (solar conjunction) and communication with the spacecraft was difficult at best, so no scientific data were taken, and MESSENGER flew by in a safe configuration with a closest approach of nearly 3000 km. On Tuesday the spacecraft will flyby as close as about 340 km and will be taking data this time with most of its instruments. The instruments onboard MESSENGER are optimized for surveying Mercury, however several are capable of taking important observations of Venus, particularly its atmosphere. It is also a great "dress rehearsal" for our first flyby of Mercury on January 14, 2008. There should be some exciting data from our sister planet coming down from MESSENGER in the next several weeks after the flyby. Several of these data will be compared with coordinated observations by ESA's Venus Express. We will be looking forward to some interesting new results in the coming months...

]]> Papers for the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2007/02/03/papers_for_the_lunar_and_planetary_science_conference We have two papers accepted for the upcoming 38th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston. LPSC is the primary... http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2007/02/03/papers_for_the_lunar_and_planetary_science_conference Mars Mercury Planetary Science Sat, 03 Feb 2007 15:29:25 EST We have two papers accepted for the upcoming 38th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston. LPSC is the primary planetary science meeting of the year. This year our group will be giving two posters on the origin and interpretation of major tectonic features on Mars and Mercury.

Ritzer, J. A., and S. A. Hauck, II (2007). Influence of external loads on interpretations of lithospheric flexure and tectonics at Isidis Planitia, Mars, Lunar and Planet. Sci., 38, 2244.pdf.

Dombard, A. J., and S. A. Hauck, II (2007). Despinning plus global contraction and the orientation of lobate scarps on Mercury, Lunar and Planet. Sci., 38, 2026.pdf.

These presentations will be made March 12-16, 2007 in League City, TX.

]]> Opportunities for Graduate Study in Planetary Geology and Geophysics http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2006/12/12/opportunities_for_graduate_study_in_planetary_geology_and_geophysics The Department of Geological Sciences at Case Western Reserve University is currently accepting applications from students interested in pursuing graduate... http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2006/12/12/opportunities_for_graduate_study_in_planetary_geology_and_geophysics Geodynamics Geological Sciences Icy satellites Mars Mercury Moon Planetary Science Tectonics Tue, 12 Dec 2006 11:08:45 EST The Department of Geological Sciences at Case Western Reserve University is currently accepting applications from students interested in pursuing graduate studies leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in the earth, environmental, and planetary sciences. The Department offers flexible, research-intensive programs for graduate students. Applications are accepted on a continuing basis, though students requesting financial support are strongly encouraged to apply by February 1, 2007. Online applications are available through the School of Graduate Studies.

There are several opportunities for students interested in pursuing research in planetary science, particularly in the areas of planetary geology and geophysics, high-pressure and temperature geochemistry, and meteorites working with a group of faculty that includes myself, Prof. Harvey, and Prof. Van Orman.

At present I am collaborating with students to (1) understand the nature of Mars' crust and lithosphere and tectonic activity and (2) the mechanisms responsible for driving Ganymede's magnetic field. Additional opportunities within these may be available depending upon interest. We are also in the process of focusing new study on large lunar impact basins and the coupled internal and tectonic evolution of Mercury.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss opportunities for graduate study in planetary science and/or geophysics with interested students (my contact info is available on my webpage).

]]> Sulfur's impact on core evolution and magnetic field generation on Ganymede http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2006/09/27/sulfurs_impact_on_core_evolution_and_magnetic_field_generation_on_ganymede Recently, we have been working to understand whether Ganymede may have a relatively exotic way of driving convection in a... http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2006/09/27/sulfurs_impact_on_core_evolution_and_magnetic_field_generation_on_ganymede Ganymede Icy satellites Planetary Science Wed, 27 Sep 2006 21:16:01 EST Recently, we have been working to understand whether Ganymede may have a relatively exotic way of driving convection in a fluid portion of a  metallic core that would in-turn generate its magnetic field.  In the Earth, convection in the outer core is driven by some combination of thermally-generated buoyancy as the core cools and compositional buoyancy from the release of some light element at the inner core outer core boundary and then rising to shallower levels.  The latter is energetically efficient because it isn't subject to the inefficiency of a heat engine.  On Ganymede the same process may also hold, however the phase diagram of a potential core alloy (Fe-FeS) is different at the low pressures in Ganymede's core compared to the much higher ones deep in the Earth.  This difference allows for the possibility that solid iron might precipitate shallow in the core and fall through the core and potentially driving the magnetic field.  It is also possible that if the core is very sulfur rich solid FeS might float up from deep in the core and also drive core convection.  Working Jonathan Aurnou (UCLA) and Andrew Dombard (APL) we have outlined the potential consequences of these relatively unique modes of core evolution in a recently published paper:

Hauck, Steven A., II, Jonathan M. Aurnou, Andrew J. Dombard, Sulfur's
impact on core evolution and magnetic field generation on Ganymede, J. Geophys. Res., 111, E09008, doi: 10.1029/2005JE002557 (2006). Article

]]> Case geology student wins Churchill Scholarship to study at Cambridge http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2006/05/02/case_geology_student_wins_churchill_scholarship_to_study_at_cambridge Check out this story about Katherine Allen, a graduating senior in geology, who earned a Churchill Scholarship to attend Cambridge... http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2006/05/02/case_geology_student_wins_churchill_scholarship_to_study_at_cambridge Case Geological Sciences Misc Tue, 02 May 2006 13:50:04 EST Check out this story about Katherine Allen, a graduating senior in geology, who earned a Churchill Scholarship to attend Cambridge next year.

]]> What makes the Earth (and other planets) go? http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2006/04/26/what_makes_the_earth_and_other_planets_go For the coming Fall 2006 semester I will be teaching GEOL 315/415 - Structural Geology and Geodynamics.  Simply stated, the... http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2006/04/26/what_makes_the_earth_and_other_planets_go Classes Geodynamics Geological Sciences Wed, 26 Apr 2006 09:00:50 EST For the coming Fall 2006 semester I will be teaching GEOL 315/415 - Structural Geology and Geodynamics.  Simply stated, the focus of this course is how and why the ground beneath our feet moves.  Most of this motion is hundreds to thousands of miles below us, but there are incredible and important consequences at the surface like earthquakes and volcanic activity.  GEOL 315/415 is required for the geology major, but students interested in engineering, math, and science have enjoyed and found value in the course as a technical elective in the past because it meshes with and reinforces or introduces concepts that are commonly used in many disciplines, the difference being that they are applied to a whole planet.  We will look at the basic principles of bending, breaking, and flowing materials as well as the transfer of heat and how those principles can be used to interpret the behavior and history of the Earth and other solid planets.  In particular, we study what drives plate tectonics, what are the consequences of volcano building beyond lava and explosions, why are there earthquakes, and how we know that the mantle is convecting. 

]]> a return to Venus http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2006/04/11/a_return_to_venus After more than a decade, earthlings have sent another spacecraft to the planet Venus.  The European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft... http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2006/04/11/a_return_to_venus Tue, 11 Apr 2006 08:41:36 EST After more than a decade, earthlings have sent another spacecraft to the planet Venus.  The European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft Venus Express (a near copy of Mars Express) went into orbit Tuesday.  The Venus Express mission is aimed primarily at understanding the thick veil that is the planet's atmosphere, though there is some hope that a couple of instruments may return some scientifically useful data from observations through the atmosphere of the surface.  In the early 1990's, NASA's Magellan spacecraft used a high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to image the surface; radar is one of the few instruments that can penetrate the clouds around Venus.  However, there is potentially a 'window' in the infrared region that might penetrate the clouds.  In any event, any new science from Venus is a good thing!


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]]> Google Mars http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2006/03/31/google_mars It had to happen eventually... Google has decided that one planet just is not enough.  http://mars.google.com/It looks like the THEMIS... http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2006/03/31/google_mars Mars Planetary Science Fri, 31 Mar 2006 20:52:00 EST It had to happen eventually... Google has decided that one planet just is not enough. 

http://mars.google.com/

It looks like the THEMIS folks at ASU have gotten together with Google to provide some easily accessible data from Mars.  It is pretty limited, but you can zoom around my favorite map of Mars, one made using MOLA laser altimeter data, as well as look at some recent visible and infrared data.

]]> Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter makes it to Mars http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2006/03/10/mars_reconnaissance_orbiter_makes_it_to_mars The largest and most powerful tool for learning about Mars has just arrived in orbit around that planet.  the Mars... http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2006/03/10/mars_reconnaissance_orbiter_makes_it_to_mars Mars Fri, 10 Mar 2006 22:43:23 EST The largest and most powerful tool for learning about Mars has just arrived in orbit around that planet.  the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has the largest camera ever sent to another planet (HiRISE), a hyperspectral instrument (Crism), and a sounding radar (SHARAD) all of which will send back incredible amounts of data about the red planet.  Indeed, it is expected that this one mission will send back 10 times more data than all the other missions to Mars (past and present) combined.  The next few years are going to bring some incredible discoveries.  Congratulations to the whole MRO team!

Check out the news story or go straight to the source at JPL's MRO website.

]]> GEOL 512 and the Martian dichotomy boundary http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2006/02/12/geol_512_and_the_martian_dichotomy_boundary This semester I am teaching a graduate seminar course centered around some unresolved problems regarding the history of the planet... http://blog.case.edu/sah33/2006/02/12/geol_512_and_the_martian_dichotomy_boundary Classes Mars Planetary Science Sun, 12 Feb 2006 20:51:50 EST This semester I am teaching a graduate seminar course centered around some unresolved problems regarding the history of the planet Mars.  The first topic is the origin of the hemispheric dichotomy.  Basically, the northern and southern hemispheres of Mars appear quite different.  The south is a few kilometers higher than the north, the north is smoother than the south, and the surface materials appear younger in the north than in the south.  The image below illustrates the basic idea - the colors are the topography of Mars from the MOLA instrument (a laser altimeter) and the blues in the north are low and the reds and oranges in the south are higher.  Several hypotheses have been put forth, ranging from one or multiple large impacts to internal processes like a past period of plate tectonics (Mars doesn't have plate tectonics today).  We are discussing the available data and how well various existing hypotheses work.  Students will be working on small individual projects related to the problem as well.  As sort of a catalog for myself and other students of Mars the following lists the papers we have been using to motivate our discussions so far.

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