Planetary Mapping
The Planetary Mapping Lab is devoted to understanding the geology of other planets, through analysis of spacecraft images. Currently, work in the lab is concentrated on data analysis from the Galileo mission to Jupiter, and the Cassini mission to Saturn. Using this data, we tackle questions about geological processes on the icy moons of the outer solar system. Much of our recent work has sought to understand the origin of pervasive bright faulted terrain (top photo) on the surface of Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon (bottom photo; NASA images).
We are just beginning now to turn our attention and the tools we've developed to address the mysteries of Saturn's moons.
Faculty-Student Research
Wheaton students have worked on several NASA-funded projects, and annually present their work at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston.
Past student projects include:
Karrie-Sue Farrar '03: Building a global database of impact features on the surface of Ganymede
Jonathan McBee '04: Determining the time sequence of tectonic deformation in Sippar Sulcus, Ganymede
Daniel Hartmann '04 and Jonathan McBee '04: Developing new methods of measuring strain across ridges on Europa
Matthew Blake '04 and Daniel Hartmann '04: Investigating morphological variations in chaotic terrain on the surface of Europa
Rachel Fontaine '04: Testing geometric methods of determining furrow system centers on Ganymede
Jennifer Savage '06: Developing map unit definitions for the global geological map of Ganymede
Emily Martin '06: Testing new techniques of automated time-sequence sorting in Eastern Mysia Sulci, Ganymede
Leanne Lortie '06: Experimenting with mixtures of water ice and micronized polymer at cryogenic temperatures as a possible Titan soil simulant
Jonathan Kay '08: Developing new tools for time-sequence sorting, and finishing the crater database for the global geologic map of Ganymede
Louie Michaud '08: Comparing methods of strain analysis in Ganymede grooved terrain, to be applied to global strain estimates
Contact information:
Geoffrey Collins, Ph.D.
gcollins@wheatoncollege.edu
Phone: 508-286-5626
Physics and Astronomy Department
Wheaton College
Norton, MA 02766 USA