Other
Scientific paper
Apr 2005
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005jgre..11004015b&link_type=abstract
Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 110, Issue E4, CiteID E04015
Other
8
Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Remote Sensing, Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Surface Materials And Properties, Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Composition (1060, 3672), Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Moon (1221)
Scientific paper
We have used maps of the OMAT optical maturity parameter, along with other Clementine UV-Vis image products, to study two interesting lunar features related to albedo and optical maturity. Examination of the region of a small crater whose formation has been suggested to be a candidate for the flash photographed in 1953 by Stuart demonstrates that the candidate crater is not unusually fresh compared to other small craters in the vicinity. Therefore it is unlikely that the formation of this impact crater generated the observed flash. An area of unusually high albedo in the Descartes highlands is also known to be a magnetic anomaly. It has been proposed that the presence of the magnetic anomaly has prevented the solar wind from reaching the surface for billions of years and therefore that the area has not undergone normal space weathering and preserved a high albedo. The high albedo is caused only by maturity differences with the surroundings, not by an exotic composition. The fact that the albedo anomaly has not darkened or reddened to the extent expected may be the result of the surface texture as revealed in 3.8-cm radar images. We suggest that the fresh appearance is largely caused by overlapping ejecta from two nearby craters and continual exposure of immature material by the erosion of 1- to 10-cm-sized fragments within the deposit. The magnetic shielding mechanism, if operative, probably plays only a minor role in producing the Descartes albedo anomaly.
Blewett David T.
Hawke Bernard Ray
Lucey Paul G.
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