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The Dawn spacecraft mission has provided extensive new and detailed data on Vesta that confirm and strengthen the Vesta-howardite-eucrite-diogenite ( HED) meteorite link and the concept that Vesta is differentiated, as derived from earlier telescopic observations. Here, we present results derived by newly calibrated spectra of Vesta. The comparison between data from the Dawn imaging spectrometer- VIR-and the different class of HED meteorites shows that average spectrum of Vesta resembles howardite spectra. Nevertheless, the Vesta spectra at high spatial resolution reveal variations in the distribution of HED-like mineralogies on the asteroid. The data have been used to derive HED distribution on Vesta, reported in Ammannito et al. (2013), and to compute the average Vestan spectra of the different HED lithologies, reported here. The spectra indicate that, not only are all the different HED lithologies present on Vesta, but also carbonaceous chondritic material, which constitutes the most abundant inclusion type found in howardites, is widespread. However, the hydration feature used to identify carbonaceous chondrite material varies significantly on Vesta, revealing different band shapes. The characteristic of these hydration features cannot be explained solely by infalling of carbonaceous chondrite meteorites and other possible origins must be considered. The relative proportion of HEDs on Vesta's surface is computed, and results show that most of the vestan surface is compatible with eucrite-rich howardites and/or cumulate or polymict eucrites. A very small percentage of surface is covered by diogenite, and basaltic eucrite terrains are relatively few compared with the abundance of basaltic eucrites in the HED suite. The largest abundance of diogenitic material is found in the Rheasilvia region, a deep basin, where it clearly occurs below a basaltic upper crust. However, diogenite is also found elsewhere; although the depth to diogenite is consistent with one magma ocean model, its lateral extent is not well constrained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface composition of the northern regions of Vesta, observed by the Dawn spacecraft, offers the possibility to test several hypotheses related to impact-related processes. We used mostly imaging spectrometry in the visible and near infrared to assess the distribution of mafic lithologies, hydrated components and albedo properties, and use the link with howardite, eucrite and diogenite meteorites (HEDs) to investigate the origin of those materials. We established that Rheasilvia ejecta reached part of the northern regions, and have a diogenitic-rich composition characteristic of the lower crust. Investigations of the antipodes of the two major impact basins (Rheasilvia and Veneneia) did not reveal any correlation between geographic location, geological features and the surface composition. The northern wall of Mamilia crater, which is one of the freshest craters above 22°N, contains relatively pure eucritic-rich, diogenitic-rich and dark, hydrated materials, which are representative of the rest of the northern regions (and most of Vesta), with the exception of an olivine-like component found in Bellicia crater by Ammannito et al. (Ammannito, E. et al. [2013a]. Nature 504(7478), 122–125). We determined that similar types of materials are found in various proportions over a large region, including Bellicia, Arruntia and Pomponia craters, and their origin does not seem to be related to Rheasilvia ejecta. These materials are hydrated, which could indicate an exogenous origin, and not as dark as expected for carbonaceous chondrites, which likely compose the majority of dark hydrated materials on Vesta. Spectral mixture analysis reveals that mixtures of pyroxenes (hypersthene, pigeonite and diopside) could offer an alternative interpretation to olivine in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to prepare for the arrival of the Dawn spacecraft at Ceres, a search for satellites was undertaken by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to enhance the mission science return and to ensure spacecraft safety. Previous satellite searches from ground-based telescopes have detected no satellites within Ceres’ Hill sphere down to a size of 3 km ( Gehrels et al. 1987 ) and early HST investigations searched to a limit of 1–2 km (Bieryla et al. 2011). The Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) on board the HST was used to image Ceres between 14 April–28 April 2014. These images cover approximately the inner third of Ceres’ Hill sphere, where the Hill sphere is the region surrounding Ceres where stable satellite orbits are possible. We performed a deep search for possible companions orbiting Ceres. No natural companions were located down to a diameter of 48 m, over most of the Hill sphere to a distance of 205,000 km (434 Ceres radii) from the surface of Ceres. It was impossible to search all the way to the surface of Ceres because of scattered light, but at a distance of 2865 km (five Ceres radii), the search limit was determined to be 925 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mapping Vesta’ surface composition in the Sextilia region offers the unique possibility to investigate stratigraphic relationship of the surface compounds throughout the transition from Rheasilvia, Vesta’s prominent impact basin, to Vesta’s northern equatorial region. The VIR data point to an upper eucrite-dominated layer overlaying extended deposits of diogenite in the subsurface, which reaches the surface at Matronalia Rupes, the uplifted rim of the Rheasilvia impact structure. The dominance of diogenite in Matronalia Rupes suggests the existence of an extended diogenite-rich layer and supports the magma-ocean model as the most plausible formation model for Vesta’s interior. Local enrichment of diogenite outside of the Rheasilvia impact basin are interpreted as outcrops of diogenite-dominated breccia excavated during the Rheasilvia impact event and re-excavated by more recent impacts. On the contrary, the asymmetry in the distribution of diogenite-rich outcrops in the norther parts, i.e., the depletion of these deposits in the Veneneia region, is at odds with the equally distributed plutonic intrusions of diogenite-rich material as proposed in the serial magmatism model but could be explained by an uneven distribution of its ejecta on Vesta’s surface due to an oblique Rheasilvia impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We derive the spin state of the nucleus of Comet 103P/Hartley 2, its orientation in space, and its short-term temporal evolution from a mixture of observations taken from the DIXI (Deep Impact Extended Investigation) spacecraft and radar observations. The nucleus is found to spin in an excited long-axis mode (LAM) with its rotational angular momentum per unit mass, M, and rotational energy per unit mass, E, slowly decreasing while the degree of excitation in the spin increases through perihelion passage. M is directed toward (RA, Dec; J2000)=8±4°, 54±1° (obliquity=48±1°). This direction is likely changing, but the change is probably <6° on the sky over the ∼81.6days of the DIXI encounter. The magnitudes of M and E at closest approach (JD 2455505.0831866 2011-11-04 13:59:47.310) are 30.0±0.2m2/s and (1.56±0.02)×10−3 m2/s2 respectively. The period of rotation about the instantaneous spin vector, which points in the direction (RA, Dec; J2000)=300±3.2°, 67±1.3° at the time of closest approach, was 14.1±0.3h. The instantaneous spin vector circulates around M, inclined at an average angle of 33.2±1.3°, with an average period of 18.40±0.13h at the time of closest approach. The period of roll around the principal axis of minimum inertia (“long” axis) at that time is 26.72±0.06h. The long axis is inclined to M by ∼81.2±0.6° on average, slowly decreasing through encounter. We infer that there is a periodic nodding motion of the long axis with half the roll period, i.e., 13.36±0.03h, with amplitude of ∼1° again decreasing through encounter. The periodic variability in the circulation and roll rates during a cycle was at the 2% and 10–14% level respectively. During the encounter there was a secular lengthening of the circulation period of the long axis by 1.3±0.2min/d, in agreement with ground-based estimates, while the period of roll around the long axis changed by ∼−4.4min/d at perihelion. M decreased at a rate of −0.038 (m2/s) per day in a roughly linear fashion. Assuming a bulk density between 230–300kg/m3 and a total volume for the nucleus of 8.09×108 m3, the net torque acting on the nucleus was in the range 0.8–1.1×105 kgm2/s2. In order to bring the spacecraft photometric and imaging data into alignment on the direction of M, the directions of the intermediate and short principal axes of inertia had to be adjusted by 33° (on the sky) from the values indicated by the shape model with an assumed homogeneous interior. The adjusted direction of the intermediate axis is RA, Dec=302°, −16.5°. The morning and evening terminators in the images are identified, and the variation of the insolation at three regions on the nucleus associated with active areas calculated. The plume of water vapor observed in the inner coma is found to be directed close to the direction of local gravity over the sub-solar region for a range of reasonable bulk densities. The plume does not follow the projected normal to the surface at the sub-solar point. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Data from the Extrasolar Planet Observation and Deep Impact Extended Investigation (EPOXI) mission show Comet 103P/Hartley 2 is a bi-lobed, elongated, nearly axially symmetric comet 2.33km in length. Surface features are primarily small mounds <40m across, irregularly-shaped smooth areas on the two lobes, and a smooth but variegated region forming a “waist” between the two lobes. Assuming parts of the comet body approach the shape of an equipotential surface, the mean density of Hartley 2 is modeled to be 200–400kgm−3. Such a mean density suggests mass loss per orbit of >1%. The shape may be the evolutionary product of insolation, sublimation, and temporary deposition of materials controlled by the object’s complex rotation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on cometary research and the Extrasolar Planet Observation and Deep Impact Extended Investigation (EPOXI) unmanned space mission. It states EPOXI flew past comet Hartley 2 on November 4, 2010 and took photographs and spectrographic measurements. It comments that Hartley 2 has a small and active nucleus that is outgassing carbon dioxide which drags particles of ice out of the nucleus. It talks about the comet's surface geology and the average geometric albedo and on differences between Hartley 2 and the comet Tempel 1.

Multispectral images (0.44 to 0.98 μm) of asteroid (4) Vesta obtained by the Dawn Framing Cameras reveal global color variations that uncover and help understand the north-south hemispherical dichotomy. The signature of deep lithologies excavated during the formation of the Rheasilvia basin on the south pole has been preserved on the surface. Color variations (band depth, spectral slope, and eucrite-diogenite abundance) clearly correlate with distinct compositional units. Vesta displays the greatest variation of geometric albedo (0.10 to 0.67) of any asteroid yet observed. Four distinct color units are recognized that chronicle processes--including impact excavation, mass wasting, and space weathering--that shaped the asteroid's surface. Vesta's color and photometric diversity are indicative of its status as a preserved, differentiated protoplanet.