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Research Associate

James E. Richardson Jr. (Jim)

B.S. degree in Physics: Spring, 2000,
from Florida State University

Ph.D. in Planetary Sciences: Spring, 2005,
from the University of Arizona


Overview:

I am currently working as a Research Associate at the Center for Radiophysics and Space Research (CSRC), the research arm of Cornell University's Department of Astronomy. My primary area of interest involves using theory and computer modeling to investigate the geophysics and geomorphology of small solar system bodies -- asteroids, comets, and planetary moons -- with emphasis on impact cratering related processes. This has led to research in three areas: I use analytical and numerical modeling techniques to (1) investigate the effects of impact-induced seismic activity on the geomorphology of asteroid and other cratered surfaces; (2) investigate the evolution of cratered terrains over time, with an emphasis on regolith generation, morphological changes, and cratering statistics; and (3) investigate the cratering process and behavior of impact ejecta produced by the Deep Impact mission on 9P/Comet Tempel 1.

Research highlights:

Download a Curiculum Vitae

orange bullet Joined Department: Summer, 2005
orange bullet Supervisor: Joseph Veverka

Research project web pages:

red bullet Deep Impact ejecta plume ballistics analysis (2007)
red bullet Impact-induced seismic shaking on asteroids (2005)
red bullet Deep Impact pre encounter simulations (2004)
red bullet 433 Eros surface gravitational properties (2004)
red bullet Early impact ejecta plume simulations (2003)
red bullet Titan's surface and rotation from Voyager 1 (2003)

Spacecraft mission involvement:

yellow bullet Stardust-NExT (2006-present): Science Team member
yellow bullet Cassini-Huygens (2005-present): Imaging Team data analysis
yellow bullet Deep Impact (2001-2007): Associate Science Team member

Fellowships and awards:

green bullet Meteoritical Society Pellas-Ryder Award, 2006
green bullet LPL Gerard P. Kuiper Memorial Award, 2005
green bullet Galileo Circle Scholarship, 2005-2006
green bullet UA Graduate College Fellowship, 2000-2001

Professional organization memberships:

blue bullet AAS Division of Planetary Sciences (DPS)
blue bullet American Geophysical Union (AGU)
blue bullet The Meteoritical Society

Cratered Terrain Evolution Model


Lunar Maria simulation (40 km width)


Lunar Highlands simulation (400 km width)

Contact information:

310 Space Sciences Building
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
 Office Phone: (607) 255-3910
Cell Phone: (520) 401-9095
richardson @ astro.cornell.edu

Publications List:

Papers:

J.E. Richardson, H.J. Melosh, C.M. Lisse, and B. Carcich (2007).
A ballistics analysis of the Deep Impact ejecta plume: determining comet Tempel 1's gravity, mass, and density,
Icarus, Vol. 190, pp. 357-390. jerichardson_ICAR2007.pdf

P.C. Thomas, J.W. Armstrong, S.W. Asmar, J.A. Burns, T. Denk, B. Giese, P. Helfenstein, L. Iess, T.V. Johnson, A. McEwen, L. Nicolaisen, C. Porco, N. Rappaport, J.E. Richardson, L. Somenzi, P. Tortora, E. P. Turtle, and J. Veverka (7 / 2007).
Hyperion's sponge-like appearance,
Nature, Vol. 448, pp. 50-56. pcthomas_NAT2007.pdf

D.P. O'Brien, R. Greenberg, and J.E. Richardson (7 / 2006).
Craters on asteroids: reconciling diverse impact records with a common impacting population,
Icarus, Vol. 183, pp. 79-92. dpobrien_ICAR2006.pdf

J.E. Richardson, H.J. Melosh, R. Greenberg, and D.P. O'Brien (12 / 2005).
The global effects of impact-induced seismic shaking on fractured asteroid surface morphology,
Icarus, Vol. 179, pp. 325-349. jerichardson_ICAR2005.pdf

M.F. A'Hearn, M.J.S. Belton, W.A. Delamere, J. Kissel, K.P. Klaasen, L.A. McFadden, K.J. Meech, H.J. Melosh, P.H. Schultz, J.M. Sunshine, P.C. Thomas, J. Veverka, D.K. Yeomans, M.W. Baca, I. Busko, C.J. Crockett, S.M. Collins, M. Desnoyer, C.A. Eberhardy, C.M. Ernst, T.L. Farnham, L. Feaga, O. Groussin, D. Hampton, S.I. Ipatov, J.Y. Li, D. Lindler, C.M. Lisse, N. Mastrodemos, W.M. Owen, J.E. Richardson, D.D. Wellnitz, and R.L. White, (10 / 2005).
Deep Impact: excavating comet Tempel 1,
Science, Vol. 310, pp. 258-264. mfahearn_SCI2005.pdf mfahearn_SCI2005_SOM.pdf

J.E. Richardson, (5 / 2005).
The seismic effect of impacts on asteroid surface morphology,
Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona. jerichardson_dissertation_2005.pdf

J.E. Richardson, H.J. Melosh, N.A. Artemeiva, and E. Pierazzo (3 / 2005).
Impact cratering theory and modeling for the Deep Impact mission: from mission planning to data analysis,
Space Science Reviews, Vol. 117, pp. 241-267. jerichardson_SSR2005.pdf

J.E. Richardson, H.J. Melosh, and R. Greenberg (11 / 2004).
Impact-induced seismic shaking on asteroid 433 Eros: a surface modification process,
Science, Vol. 306, pp. 1526-1529. jerichardson_SCI2004.pdf jerichardson_SCI2004_SOM.pdf

J.E. Richardson, R.A. Lorenz, and A.S. McEwen (7 / 2004).
Titan's surface and rotation: new results from Voyager 1 images,
Icarus, Vol. 170, pp. 113-124. jerichardson_ICAR2004.pdf

P.S. Gural, P. Jenniskens, M. Koop, M. Jones, J. Houston-Jones, D. Holman, and J.E. Richardson (2004).
The relative activity of the 2001 Leonid storm peaks and implications for the 2002 return,
Advances in Space Research, Vol. 33-9, pp. 1501-1506.

D.D. Meisel and J.E. Richardson (1999).
Statistical properties of meteors from a simple, passive forward-scatter system,
Planetary and Space Science, Vol. 47, pp. 107-124. ddmeisel_PLSS1998.pdf

Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) abstracts:

J.E. Richardson, (3 / 2008).
Modeling the evolution of cratered terrain in three dimensions: a study of crater creation and erosion on airless bodies,
39th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC), No. 2079. jerichardson_LPSC2008.pdf

J.E. Richardson, (3 / 2007).
Improving the modeling of impact ejecta behavior: the effects of gravity and strength near the crater rim,
38th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC), No. 1345. jerichardson_LPSC2007.pdf

J.E. Richardson and H.J. Melosh, (3 / 2006).
Modeling the ballistic behavior of solid ejecta from the Deep Impact cratering event,
37th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC), No. 1836. jerichardson_LPSC2006.pdf

J.E. Richardson, H.J. Melosh, and R. Greenberg, (3 / 2005).
A stochastic cratering model for asteroids surfaces,
36th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC), No. 2032. jerichardson_LPSC2005.pdf

J.E. Richardson, H.J. Melosh, and R. Greenberg, (3 / 2004).
The seismic effect of impacts on asteroid surface morphology: early modeling results,
35th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC), No. 1864. jerichardson_LPSC2004.pdf

J.E. Richardson, H.J. Melosh, and R. Greenberg (3 / 2003).
An impact ejecta behavior model for small irregular bodies,
34th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC), No. 1241. jerichardson_LPSC2003.pdf

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"To consider the Earth as the only populated world in infinite space is as absurd as to assert that on a vast plain only one stalk of grain will grow" -- Metrodoros of Chios, 4th center B.C.

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