P53E-2178
Preliminary Geological Map of the Ac-H-11 Sintana Quadrangle of Ceres: An Integrated Mapping Study Using Dawn Spacecraft Data

Friday, 18 December 2015
Poster Hall (Moscone South)
Franziska Schulzeck1, Ralf Jaumann1, Katrin Krohn1, David A Williams2, Debra Buczkowski3, Scott C Mest4, Jennifer E. C. Scully5, Isabel von der Gathen1, Elke Kersten6, Klaus-Dieter Matz7, Andrea Naß6, Katharina Otto8, Carle M Pieters9, Frank Preusker6, Thomas Roatsch1, Maria Cristina De Sanctis10, Stefan Schroeder11, Katrin Stephan7, Roland J Wagner1, Carol A Raymond5 and Christopher T Russell12, (1)German Aerospace Center DLR Berlin, Berlin, Germany, (2)Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States, (3)JHU Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, United States, (4)Planetary Science Institute Tucson, Tucson, AZ, United States, (5)NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, United States, (6)German Aerospace Center (DLR), Berlin, Germany, (7)German Aerospace Center, Berlin, Germany, (8)German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Berlin, Germany, (9)Brown University, Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Providence, RI, United States, (10)IAPS-INAF, Rome, Italy, (11)German Aerospace Center DLR Berlin, Institute of Planetary Research, Berlin, Germany, (12)University of California Los Angeles, IGPP/EPSS, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Abstract:
Ac-H-11 Sintana is one of 15 geologic mapping quadrangles on the dwarf planet Ceres, which are used to identify geologic units and features. The quadrangle is located in the southern hemisphere of Ceres between 21-66°S and 0-90°E Results of our geologic mapping will contribute to the understanding of the geologic history and surface-forming processes of this quadrangle. The dominant feature is an alignment of three craters in the topographically lower center of the quadrangle. These craters illustrate the diversity of crater forms, inner structures and symmetries, such as terraced walls and elongated central structures. There are numerous central peaks inside craters of different sizes. The largest craters in the quadrangle reveal more complex inner structures and flat floors. Great variation in the slopes of crater walls and degradation states of crater rims can be found, as well as mass wasting features, such as landslides. Several linear structures are evident, which will be distinguished and analyzed. Possible explanations for these structures include secondary crater chains and pit chains. A positive topography feature is found to the south of the Sintana crater. Examining aforementioned features will help to assess surface composition and local tectonics. Different ratios of color-filter images suggest a major geological boundary in the NE of the quadrangle. Visible and infrared spectroscopic data will contribute to the compositional interpretation.

The mapping is based on a stereo digital terrain model, clear-filter images and images of different color-filter ratios derived from the Framing Camera onboard the Dawn spacecraft. To date, resolutions of 1.3 km/px from the approach phase in Spring 2015, and 415 m/px from the Survey Orbit, in June 2015, are used in geological mapping. Higher resolution images will be obtained during the High Altitude Mapping Orbit (140 m/px) in Fall 2015, followed by the Low Altitude Mapping Orbit (35 m/px) in the beginning of 2016.

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