Internal structure, cohesion and surface processes of asteroids Naomi Murdoch

le 20 nov 2015 de10h00à 12h002015/11/20 2015/11/20

The regolith-covered surfaces of asteroids preserve records of geophysical processes that have occurred both at their surfaces and sometimes also in their interiors. As a result of the unique micro-gravity environment that these bodies posses, a complex and varied geophysics has given birth to fascinating features that we are just now beginning to understand. The processes that formed such features were first hypothesised through detailed spacecraft observations and have been further studied using theoretical, numerical and experimental methods that often combine several scientific disciplines. These multiple approaches are now merging towards a further understanding of the geophysical states of the surfaces of asteroids. This talk will provide an overview of what the scientific community has learned so far about the internal structures and surfaces of asteroids and the processes that have shaped them. I will also discuss the future space missions that may help to answer some of the many remaining questions about these small planetary bodies.