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Pitted terrains on (1) Ceres and implications for shallow subsurface volatile distribution.
H G Sizemore1, T Platz2, N Schorghofer1
1Planetary Science Institute Tucson Arizona USA.
Geophysical Research Letters
|October 10, 2017
Summary
Fresh impact craters on Ceres reveal pitted terrains, suggesting water ice plays a key role in their formation. These findings have implications for understanding icy bodies in the asteroid belt.
Area of Science:
- Planetary Science
- Astrogeology
- Astrobiology
Background:
- The dwarf planet Ceres was expected to be ice-rich prior to the Dawn spacecraft's arrival.
- Ongoing searches for ice-related morphological features have been conducted during the Dawn mission.
- Pitted terrains, linked to ice, have been observed on Mars and Vesta.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize pitted terrains on Ceres.
- To investigate the formation mechanisms of these pitted terrains using numerical models.
- To assess the role of water ice and other volatiles in pit development on Ceres.
Main Methods:
- Identification of pitted terrains associated with fresh impact craters on Ceres.
- Morphological comparison of Cerean pitted terrains with those on Mars and Vesta.
- Numerical modeling to simulate pit formation processes.
Main Results:
- Pitted terrains were identified on Ceres in association with fresh impact craters.
- Cerean pitted terrains show strong morphological similarities to those on Mars and Vesta.
- Numerical models suggest water ice is a likely significant factor in pit development.
Conclusions:
- Water ice likely plays a crucial role in the development of pitted terrains on Ceres.
- Similar pitted terrains may be widespread in the asteroid belt.
- These findings are relevant for future astrobiology and in situ resource utilization missions.
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