HR: 1340h
AN: P33A-0225    [Abstracts]
TI: Selection Strategies of Targets for Surface Science Observation by VIRTIS on Venus Express
AU: Mueller, N
EM: nils.mueller@dlr.de
AF: Institute of Planetary Research, Rutherfordstrasse 2, Berlin, 12489 Germany
AU: * Helbert, J
EM: joern.helbert@dlr.de
AF: Institute of Planetary Research, Rutherfordstrasse 2, Berlin, 12489 Germany
AU: Marinangeli, L
EM: luciam@irsps.unich.it
AF: IRSPS, Universita' d'Annunzio Viale Pindaro, 42, Pescara, 65127 Italy
AU: Kostama, P
EM: petri.kostama@oulu.fi
AF: University of Oulu, Fysikaalisten tieteiden laitos / T„htitiede PL 3000 , Oulu, 90014 Finland
AB: VIRTIS on Venus Express will make use of the near infrared windows to obtain data from the surface of Venus. Based on these data we will be deriving classification maps of the surface composition. Furthermore we plan to search for the thermal signature of active volcanism on the surface. VIRTIS has a number of different observation modes and the orbit of Venus Express will allow spectral imaging of the surface only during part of the orbit. This makes a detailed observation planning necessary to maximize the science return. We will present here our current list of potential surface targets and the strategies applied to create an observation planning. There are several criteria's we are considering for the selection process. Due to the orbit of Venus Express we are mainly limited to the southern hemisphere of Venus. During the pericenter pass the spacecraft is too fast to allow pushbroom imaging by VIRTIS. The blurring in the cloud layer will limit our spatial resolution most likely to 50-100km. Therefore only targets larger than about 150km are considered for the moment. In the first observation phase we will try to sample a wide variety of different surface areas and different altitudes to obtain first information on compositional difference and the temperature lapse rate.
DE: 5410 Composition (1060, 3672)
DE: 5418 Heat flow
DE: 5455 Origin and evolution
DE: 5480 Volcanism (6063, 8148, 8450)
DE: 5494 Instruments and techniques
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005