O. L. White
A5073700675- Astro and Planetary Science
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Space Exploration and Technology
- High-pressure geophysics and materials
- Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
- Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
- earthquake and tectonic studies
- Marine and environmental studies
- Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
- Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
- Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
- Space exploration and regulation
- Geological Modeling and Analysis
- Geological and Geophysical Studies Worldwide
- Space Satellite Systems and Control
- Nuclear and radioactivity studies
Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
2017-2025
Ames Research Center
2015-2024
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2015-2021
Jacobs (United Kingdom)
2019-2020
Universities Space Research Association
2014-2017
Planetary Systems (United States)
2017
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
2016
Southwest Research Institute
2016
Oak Ridge Associated Universities
2014
Lunar and Planetary Institute
2012-2013
New Horizons unveils the Pluto system In July 2015, spacecraft flew through at high speed, humanity's first close look this enigmatic on outskirts of our solar system. a series papers, team present their analysis encounter data downloaded so far: Moore et al. complex surface features and geology its large moon Charon, including evidence tectonics, glacial flow, possible cryovolcanoes. Grundy analyzed colors chemical compositions surfaces, with ices H 2 O, CH 4 , CO, N NH 3 reddish material...
The New Horizons mission has provided resolved measurements of Pluto's moons Styx, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra. All four are small, with equivalent spherical diameters $\approx$40 km for Nix Hydra ~10 Styx Kerberos. They also highly elongated, maximum to minimum axis ratios $\approx$2. have high albedos ( $\approx$50-90 %) suggestive a water-ice surface composition. Crater densities on imply ages $\gtrsim$ 4 Ga. small rotate much faster than synchronous, rotational poles clustered nearly...
Abstract NASA's New Horizons mission performed the first flyby of a small Kuiper Belt Object (KBO), (486958) Arrokoth on 1 January 2019. The fast revealed fascinating, flattened, contact binary replete with variety unexpected geologic terrains. However, irregular shape and constraints imposed by makes it challenge to understand these features. Here we use latest models investigate its geophysical environment, including surface slopes, gravity field, moments inertia—which are critical context...
The New Horizons spacecraft returned images and compositional data showing that terrains on Pluto span a variety of ages, ranging from relatively ancient, heavily cratered areas to very young surfaces with few-to-no impact craters. One the regions few craters is dominated by enormous rises hummocky flanks. Similar features do not exist anywhere else in imaged solar system. Here we analyze geomorphology composition conclude this region was resurfaced cryovolcanic processes, type scale so far...
The Cold Classical Kuiper Belt, a class of small bodies in undisturbed orbits beyond Neptune, are primitive objects preserving information about Solar System formation. New Horizons spacecraft flew past one these objects, the 36 km long contact binary (486958) Arrokoth (2014 MU69), January 2019. Images from flyby show that has no detectable rings, and satellites (larger than 180 meters diameter) within radius 8000 km, lightly-cratered smooth surface with complex geological features, unlike...
Abstract The icy Galilean satellites display impact crater morphologies that are rare in the Solar System. They deviate from archetypal sequence of as a function size found on rocky bodies and other satellites: they exhibit central pits place peaks, followed by dome craters, anomalous penepalimpsests, palimpsests, multi‐ring structures. Understanding origin these features will provide insight into geophysical factors operate within satellites. Pit craters above threshold feature domes. This...
Abstract Pluto's surface displays a wide variety of geologic units from smooth plains to extremely rugged mountainous expanses. These terrains range in age young, actively resurfaced regions (no observable craters even the highest‐resolution New Horizons images) old, heavily cratered, eroded regions. Here we expand upon crater data analysis and independent set used production 1:7M scale map Pluto that is be published by United States Geologic Survey (USGS). We present both relative ages...
Abstract The icy dwarf planets of Pluto, Charon, and Ceres provide important geologic comparisons for each other as they possess similar gravities experience impacts velocities compared to larger moons. Differences in their impact craters can therefore be attributed differences the impactor and/or target compositions. Craters on show taller rims than but comparable internal crater dimensions (depth, wall slope, peak size). It is possible that non-ice component crust provides additional...
Abstract In contrast with regional primarily methane composition, Kiladze and its surroundings exhibit a water-ice spectral signature that carries an ammoniated compound, similar to two other cryovolcanic sites on Pluto. The faulted structure of Kiladze, including shaping by numerous collapse pits the distortion shape depression, are compatible in Hayabusa Terra, east Sputnik Planitia. They further interpretation as caldera formed during era active period appears be significantly more recent...