Interplanetary weathering: Surface erosion in outer space

1996/04/09 by B. E. Clark, Robert E. Johnson · 3 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Asteroid #Astro and Planetary Science #Astrobiology #Astronomy #Computer science #Erosion #Geology #Geomorphology #Interplanetary space #Interplanetary spaceflight #Outer space #Physics #Planetary Science and Exploration #Solar wind #Space (punctuation) #Space exploration and regulation #Space weathering #Spacecraft #Weathering

paper · doi:10.1029/96eo00094

openalex publication_date 1996/04/09 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11

Abstract

What happens to bare rock and icy surfaces when they lie exposed to the interplanetary space environment for millions of years? This fundamental question has important implications for the interpretation of remotely sensed data, whether obtained by telescope or spacecraft. It is also, of course, very difficult to answer, but planetary geologists and field and particle physicists are working together to do so.

Citations

• Detection of an oxygen atmosphere on Jupiter's moon Europa
• Charge‐coupled device spectra of the Galilean satellites: Molecular oxygen on Ganymede

Cited by

• Asteroid Space Weathering and Regolith Evolution
• S‐type asteroids, ordinary chondrites, and space weathering: The evidence from Galileo's fly‐bys of Gaspra and Ida
• Formation and evolution of the Solar System [wikipedia]