Can Vesta have a polar cap

1
Can Vesta have a polar cap?

• Eleonora Ammannito
• INAF/IFSI - Roma
• CISAS - Padova

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The model

• Time-dependent, unidimensional partial
  differential equations, expressing the
  conservation of energy (heat diffusion) and mass
  (gas diffusion), in the general form
• ? density, ? flux, Q source term
• PDE's are solved numerically in discrete time
  steps on a discrete grid

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The initial conditions
Parametri fisici
Seasonal variation of the temperature at
different latitudes on the surface of Vesta. It
was condidered the equilibrium between the solar
irradiance at the Vestas distance from the Sun
at each latitude and the thermal emission of the
body.
Parametri orbitali
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Preliminary indications