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Ross Beyer

Contact Information
Phone: 
(650)604-0324
Email : 
Ross.A.Beyer@nasa.gov
Affiliation: 
Planetary Systems Branch (Code SST)
Other Affiliation: 
Coop/SETI
Professional Background
Professional Biography: 
Principal Investigator and Research Scientist with the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute. He carries out his research in the Space Science and Astrobiology Division (Planetary Systems Branch, SST) at the NASA Ames Research Center. Ross is also a Research Fellow with the Center for the Origin, Dynamics and Evolution of Planets (CODEP) at UC Santa Cruz.

Ross works on planetary surface studies. He has performed geophysical modeling of diapirism on Mars and other terrestrial planets. He works on ways to quantitatively analyze the meter-scale topography and surface roughness of planetary surfaces via remote sensing. This work has been used to help plan landing sites on Mars. Ross is also working to gain a better understanding of the stratigraphy and layering in the Valles Marineris both in the slopes of the chasmata and the interior mesas in order to learn more about the geologic history of Mars.
Education: 
* Ph.D. in Planetary Sciences, 2004, The University of Arizona
* B.S. in Astronomy, 1998, University of Illinois
* B.S. in Physics, 1998, University of Illinois
Research Interests: 
Current Projects:

* Valles Marineris Stratigraphy
* Quantitative meter-scale roughness
* Slope streaks and mass movement on Mars
* Planning the New Horizons encounter with the Pluto/Charon system
* Making NASA's geospatial data more available
o member of the NASA Ames Planetary Content Team, see information about our 2007 Fall AGU meeting poster
o see my Planetary KML examples
o Contributed to the new Mars 3D mode in Google Earth 5.0 (see NASA Press Release)
* Orrery.us

Other Projects:

* Online Program, Crater, for calculating crater diameters and projectile diameters
* Arizona Meteorites
* Improving the data in the improved Google Moon
Select Publications: 
Peer-Reviewed Papers

* Barnes, Jason W.; Brown, Robert H.; Soderblom, Laurence; Sotin, Christophe; Le Mouèlic, Stèphane; Rodriguez, Sebastien; Jaumann, Ralf; Beyer, Ross A.; Buratti, Bonnie J.; Pitman, Karly; Baines, Kevin H.; Clark, Roger; and Nicholson, Phil. 2008. Spectroscopy, morphometry, and photoclinometry of Titan's dunefields from Cassini/VIMS. Icarus, Volume 195, Issue 1, p. 400-414.

* Keszthelyi, Laszlo; Jaeger, Windy; McEwen, Alfred; Tornabene, Livio; Beyer, Ross A.; Dundas, Colin; and Milazzo, Moses. 2008. High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) images of volcanic terrains from the first 6 months of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Primary Science Phase. Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 113, Issue E4, CiteID E04005.

* Bland, Michael T.; Beyer, Ross A.; and Showman, Adam P. 2007. Unstable extension of Enceladus' lithosphere. Icarus, Volume 192, Issue 1, p. 92-105.

* Phillips, Cynthia B.; Burr, Devon M.; and Beyer, Ross A. 2007. Mass movement within a slope streak on Mars. Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 34, Issue 21, CiteID L21202.

* Chuang, Frank C.; Beyer, Ross A.; McEwen, Alfred S.; and Thomson, Bradley J. 2007. HiRISE observations of slope streaks on Mars. Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 34, Issue 20, CiteID L20204.

* Bourke, M. C.; Balme, M.; Beyer, R. A.; Williams, K. K.; and Zimbelman, J. 2006. A comparison of methods used to estimate the height of sand dunes on Mars. Geomorphology, v. 81, iss. 3-4, p. 440-452.

* Beyer, Ross A. and McEwen, Alfred S. 2005. Layering stratigraphy of eastern Coprates and northern Capri Chasmata, Mars. Icarus, Volume 179, Issue 1, p. 1-23.
[Self-Archived Full Text]
* Beyer, Ross A.; McEwen, Alfred S.; and Kirk, Randolph L. 2003. Meter-scale slopes of candidate MER landing sites from point photoclinometry. Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 108, Issue E12, pp. ROV 26-1, CiteID 8085, DOI 10.1029/2003JE002120.
[Self-Archived Full Text]

Conference Abstracts

* Beyer, Ross A.; Archinal, B.; Li, R.; Mattson, S.; Moratto, Z.; McEwen, A.; Oberst, J.; and Robinson, M. 2009. LROC Stereo Observations. American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #26.05.

* Beyer, R. A.; Archinal, B.; Li, R.; Mattson, S.; McEwen, A.; and Robinson, M. 2009. LROC Stereo Observations. Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Science Targeting Meeting, held June 9-11, 2009 in Tempe, Arizona. LPI Contribution No. 1483, p.15-16.

* Hancher, M. D.; Beyer, R.; Broxton, M.; Gorelick, N.; Kolb, E.; and Weiss-Malik, M. 2009. Visualizing Mars Data and Imagery with Google Earth. 40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, (Lunar and Planetary Science XL), held March 23-27, 2009 in The Woodlands, Texas, id.2308.

* Milazzo, M. P.; Keszthelyi, L. P.; Jaeger, W. L.; Rosiek, M.; Mattson, S.; Verba, C. A.; Beyer, R. A.; Geissler, P. E.; McEwen, A. S.; and Hirise Team. 2009. The Distribution of Columnar Lavas on Mars as Seen by HiRISE. 40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, (Lunar and Planetary Science XL), held March 23-27, 2009 in The Woodlands, Texas, id.2159.

* Chuang, F. C. and Beyer, R. A. 2009. Modification of Martian Slope Streaks. 40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, (Lunar and Planetary Science XL), held March 23-27, 2009 in The Woodlands, Texas, id.2104.

* Hancher, M.; Beyer, R.; Broxton, M.; Gorelick, N.; Kolb, E.; and Weiss-Malik, M. 2008. Beyond Earth: Using Google Earth to Visualize Other Planetary Bodies. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2008, abstract #IN41A-1134.

* Beyer, R. A.; Hancher, M. D.; Broxton, M.; Weiss-Malik, M.; Gorelick, N.; and Kolb, E. 2008. Visualizing NASA's Planetary Data with Google Earth. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2008, abstract #P53C-1470.

* Beyer, R. A.; Chuang, F. C.; Thomson, B. J.; Milazzo, M. P.; and Wray, J. 2008. Martian Slope Streak Brightening Mechanisms. 39th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, (Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIX), held March 10-14, 2008 in League City, Texas. LPI Contribution No. 1391., p.2538.

* Beyer, R. A. and Hirise Team. 2008. HiRISE Photoclinometry of Proposed MSL Landing Sites. 39th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, (Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIX), held March 10-14, 2008 in League City, Texas. LPI Contribution No. 1391., p.2485.

* Hancher, M. D.; Beyer, R. A.; Broxton, M. J.; Kasraie, K.; and Smith, M. F. 2008. New Platforms for Web-based Lunar and Planetary Mapping and GIS. 39th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, (Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIX), held March 10-14, 2008 in League City, Texas. LPI Contribution No. 1391., p.2263.

* Bridges, N. T.; Gorbaty, E.; Beyer, R. A.; Byrne, S.; Thomson, B. J.; Wray, J.; and Hirise Team. 2008. Low Thermal Inertia and High Elevation Bedforms as Seen by the HiRISE Camera. 39th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, (Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIX), held March 10-14, 2008 in League City, Texas. LPI Contribution No. 1391., p.2108.

* Milazzo, M. P.; Jaeger, W. L.; Keszthelyi, L.; McEwen, A. S.; and Beyer, R. A. 2008. The Discovery of Columnar Jointing on Mars. 39th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, (Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIX), held March 10-14, 2008 in League City, Texas. LPI Contribution No. 1391., p.2062.

Go to http://rossbeyer.net/science/ to obtain abstracts of his publications
Other Information
NASA Missions: 
* Galileo SSI * Mars Global Surveyor / Mars Orbiter Camera * Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) (Landing Site selection) * Phoenix Mars Lander (Landing Site Selection) * 2009 Mars Science Laboratory (Landing Site Selection) * New Horizons (Geology and Geophsyics Imaging team affiliate) * Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE participating scientist) * Lunar Reconnaissance Orbter (LRO) Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC participating scientist)