A Comparison of Mercurian Reflectance and Spectral Quantities with Those of the Moon

Details A Comparison of Mercurian Reflectance and Spectral Quantities with Those of the Moon A Comparison of Mercurian Reflectance and Spectral Quantities with Those of the Moon

Sep 1997

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1997icar..129..217b&link_type=abstract

Icarus, Volume 129, Issue 1, pp. 217-231.

Mathematics

Logic

62

Scientific paper

We have examined previously published Earth-based telescopic spectra of Mercury with the goal of obtaining clues to the planet's surface composition. The study has three parts. First, because of suggestions that Mercury's crust may be anorthositic, we compare near-infrared spectra of Mercury with spectra of lunar anorthosites. The spectral slopes and lack of strong mineralogic absorption features make the mercurian spectra similar to spectra of lunar anorthosites. Second, we compare albedo quantities for Mercury and the Moon computed from telescopically derived photometric parameters with the laboratory albedos of returned lunar samples. The albedos calculated from the photometric parameters are much lower than those of lunar samples measured in the laboratory. Third, the mercurian spectra are interpreted in terms of the current model for the reflectance of an iron-bearing silicate regolith on an airless body. Recent steps toward quantifying this model permit esti! mates of the FeO content and opaque mineral abundance of the surface to be made. We find that the mercurian spectra least affected by telluric absorptions imply FeO + TiO_2 ~ 4%.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

A Comparison of Mercurian Reflectance and Spectral Quantities with Those of the Moon 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 A Comparison of Mercurian Reflectance and Spectral Quantities with Those of the Moon, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A Comparison of Mercurian Reflectance and Spectral Quantities with Those of the Moon will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1227190