Interpretations of optical observations of Mercury and the moon

Details Interpretations of optical observations of Mercury and the moon Interpretations of optical observations of Mercury and the moon

Nov 1977

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1977pepi...15..264h&link_type=abstract

(Lunar Science Institute, Conference on Comparisons of Mercury and the Moon, Houston, Tex., Nov. 15-17, 1976.) Physics of the Ea

Physics

21

Lunar Surface, Mercury (Planet), Optical Measurement, Planetary Surfaces, Remote Sensors, Visual Observation, Astronomical Photometry, Lunar Soil, Mariner 10 Space Probe, Meteoritic Damage, Planetary Magnetic Fields, Planetary Structure, Solar Wind, Spectral Reflectance

Scientific paper

Optical, thermal and radar remote-sensing measurements indicate that Mercury is covered with a relatively thick layer of soil similar in texture and thickness to lunar regolith. Photometric limb profiles measured by Mariner 10 imply that the small-scale slopes on Mercury are about half those on the moon, probably because of differing gravity. The differential photometric functions of Mercury and the moon have a latitudinal dependence which can be completely accounted for by shadowing in craters. The lack of polar darkening on Mercury in spite of the presence of a magnetic field implies that the dominant soil-darkening process on Mercury, and by extension, on the moon is not dependent on the solar wind, but probably is deposition of material evaporated by meteorite impacts. Recent measurements of Mercury's spectral reflectivity in the IR and vacuum UV are both consistent with the surface rocks of Mercury being lower in FeO than those of the moon. Based on laboratory experiments the average FeO content on the surface of Mercury is estimated to be between 3 and 6%.

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