About the Planetary Geology Group
The Planetary Geology Group (PG Group) and the Space Photography Laboratory (SPL) are under the direction of Dr. Ronald Greeley. Located on the main campus of Arizona State University in the metropolitan Phoenix area, the ASU PG Group is in the heart of Arizona with easy access to the state's outstanding geology. Arizona and ASU play major parts in planetary exploration, and the PG Group participates in many of NASA's planetary missions. Current projects involve planetary image analysis, simulations of aeolian processes, planetary mapping, support of field investigations, and planning for space-flight operations, including:
- analysis of Mars, the Moon, Venus, and Io data for evidence of erosion by flowing lava
- study of Mars data in the analysis of wind-related features
- interpretation of data of the Galilean satellites to study volcanic and tectonic processes
- studies of potential landing sites on Mars
- analysis of Europa to determine sites of ice deformation
- study of aeolian features in the Mojave Desert as analogs to Mars
- analysis of volcanic features in the southwest
- support for planetary flight projects, including the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) and Mars Express (MEX) missions.
The PG Group and SPL support numerous activities in education and public outreach, including "open houses," development of educational materials, web-based exercises, teacher-student activities, and support for university courses in planetary geology.
The SPL is a NASA supported Regional Planetary Image Facility. SPL collections include terrestrial and planetary images in prints, negatives, and digital formats. Nearly one million images and maps from nearly all lunar and planetary missions, plus collections of ground and aerial photographs of volcanic and aeolian terrains on Earth are housed in SPL.
Additional facilities supporting the PG Group include the Image Processing Facility (IMF), the Planetary Geology Laboratory (wind tunnel and vortex generator - ASU main campus), and the ASU Planetary Aeolian Laboratory at the NASA-Ames Research Center in CA.
For additional information regarding the PG Group, our associates, and/or facilities please follow the links listed below.
Contact
Facilities
History
Space Photography Laboratory
Director: Prof. Ronald Greeley
Daniel Ball: SPL Data Manager / Photographer Sr.
Stephanie Holaday: Administrative Assistant
Sylvia Muse: Accountant Associate