Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010agufm.p51c1451h&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2010, abstract #P51C-1451
Physics
[5464] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Remote Sensing, [5470] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Surface Materials And Properties, [5494] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Instruments And Techniques, [6250] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Moon
Scientific paper
Sunlight reflected from the lunar surface is known to be partially polarized. The degree of polarization is strongly dependent on phase angle and inversely proportional to albedo. Measurements in the visible and near-infrared have been accomplished from ground-based observatories, but ultraviolet wavelengths cannot be observed from the ground due to the opacity of the Earth’s atmosphere. Consequently, there are few measurements of the lunar polarization at wavelengths below ~350 nm. The SOLar-STellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment (SOLSTICE) on the SOLar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) has been observing the integrated disk of the Moon in the ultraviolet (115 - 300 nm) over a wide range of phase angles (0 to ~170 degrees) on a routine basis from June 2006 to August 2010. The SOLSTICE instrument is partially polarizing due to its operation as a scanning-grating monochromator. By acquiring observations as a function of roll angle (i.e. the relative orientation of the instrument axis with the scattering plane) we observe a modulation in signal. This modulation results from the combined effects of the instrument and lunar polarization. Given the instrument response to polarized light (measured prior to launch) we can solve for the lunar polarization. The degree of polarization of the lunar regolith is influenced by the particle distribution and surface texture. This work also demonstrates that potentially useful observations can be made by partially-polarizing flight instruments.
Hendrix Amanda R.
Holsclaw Gregory M.
McClintock William E.
Snow Martin Anthony
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