Dawn Spacecraft offers first look at giant asteroid`s chemistry
Monday, January 23, 2012 - 12:03
in Astronomy & Space
(PhysOrg.com) -- The NASA Dawn spacecrafts close-up study of the giant asteroid Vesta is offering researchers their first look at the elemental composition of this ancient protoplanet. Vesta is the second most massive body in the main asteroid belt and has remained intact since its formation more than 4.5 billion years ago. Dawns Gamma Ray and Neutron Detector (GRaND) will determine the chemical composition of Vesta, providing new information about how Vesta formed and evolved. Tom Prettyman, a Senior Scientist at the Planetary Science Institute, is the lead for GRaND as well as Dawns Geochemistry Team.