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About

Susan J. Wentworth is a leading expert in planetary surface processes, with a particular focus on space weathering and the alteration of materials on the Moon and Mars. Her foundational work on lunar samples, including the highly cited 1999 study "Space weathering on the Moon: Patina on Apollo 17 samples," established a multi-disciplinary framework—using SEM, TEM, and EDS—to characterize how micrometeorite impacts and solar wind irradiation alter the surfaces of airless bodies. Her research on surface-correlated nanophase iron metal in lunar soils (1998) provided critical insights into the optical effects of space weathering, directly informing the interpretation of remote sensing data from the Moon. More recently, Wentworth has expanded her expertise to Martian meteorites, notably investigating indigenous carbon-rich matter and aqueous alteration features in the Nakhla meteorite (2021). This work bridges planetary geology and astrobiology, exploring the complex preservation history of organic compounds. With her papers accumulating over 90 citations, Wentworth’s contributions are essential for understanding how surfaces evolve in the solar system, making her a key figure in lunar and Martian science.