Computer Science
Scientific paper
Sep 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010icar..209..125v&link_type=abstract
Icarus, Volume 209, Issue 1, p. 125-137.
Computer Science
4
Scientific paper
We present resolved near-infrared spectra of Mercury scanning 70% of the surface in latitude and longitude from three separate observations, allowing us to perform a compositional investigation of its surface. By scanning the surface we find that all spectra in our sample are remarkably similar suggesting overall compositional homogeneity. We do, however, observe a slope difference between the spectra. These slope changes are most likely due to differences in the emission angle over different parts of the surface. We confirm the presence of a 1.1 μm feature that had been previously detected (Warell, J. et al. [2006]. Icarus 180, 281-291) and attributed to Ca-rich clinopyroxene. Finally, we investigated Mercury’s surface composition by comparing its spectrum with ground-based lunar spectra, lunar soil spectra collected in the laboratory, and analysis with a simple linear mixing model using various minerals as end-members. The result of this compositional investigation reveals that Mercury’s surface composition is likely to be quite different from the Moon’s. While low-Ca iron-rich pyroxenes are main surface components on the Moon (abundance varying from ˜5% to ˜35%), their abundance on Mercury may not exceed 5%. We also find that a Ca-rich clinopyroxene (in the hedenbergite-diopside series) is likely to be a main component of Mercury’s surface whereas this mineral is almost absent on the Moon. Our analysis also suggests the possible presence of olivine. We find that Mercury’s slope is less red than that of the Moon, in agreement with results from MESSENGER (McClintock, W.E., and 12 colleagues [2008]. Science 321, 62-65), and composition rather than variation of space weathering is likely the cause of this difference.
Birlan Mirel
DeMeo Francesca
Doressoundiram Alain
Erard Stephane
Nedelcu Dan Alin
No associations
LandOfFree
Resolved spectroscopy of Mercury in the near-IR with SpeX/IRTF does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Resolved spectroscopy of Mercury in the near-IR with SpeX/IRTF, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Resolved spectroscopy of Mercury in the near-IR with SpeX/IRTF will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1496537