Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Mar 1993
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993lpi....24.1033m&link_type=abstract
In Lunar and Planetary Inst., Twenty-Fourth Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Part 2: G-M p 1033-1034 (SEE N94-16173 03-91
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
8
Brightness, Levitation, Light Scattering, Lunar Atmosphere, Lunar Dust, Lunar Surface, Radial Distribution, Sunlight, Diurnal Variations, Infrared Radiation, Light (Visible Radiation), Lunar Photography, Sky Surveys (Astronomy), Terminator Lines, Ultraviolet Radiation
Scientific paper
It is believed that a substantial population of levitated dust is present in the terminator region of the moon. Stray light scattered by this dust layer may contaminate astronomical observations made from the lunar surface using infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light. The evidence for dust levitation stems from: Surveyor vidicon images of horizon glow; anomalous brightness in photographs of the solar corona taken by Apollo astronauts while the spacecraft was just inside the moon's shadow; and observations by Apollo astronauts of streamers just prior to lunar orbital sunrise or just after lunar orbital sunset. It has been proposed that the differential charging of the lunar surface in the terminator region due to photoemission and the consequent strong local electric fields comprise the mechanism responsible for this levitation. Although quantitative data on the levitated lunar dust distribution are meager, it is possible to estimate column densities and sizes. In this paper we summarize the estimates of particulate sizes and number densities of previous authors, and construct a nominal terminator dust distribution, as a function of particulate radius and altitude above the lunar surface. Using the model we estimate the brightness of scattered sunshine for three wavelength bands. For the results in the visible wavelengths, we compare the estimated brightness with the known brightness of selected astronomical objects and discuss the implications for lunar-based astronomy.
Murphy Daniel L.
Vondrak Richard R.
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