Possibility of the Presence of S, SO2, and CO2 at the Poles of the Moon

Details Possibility of the Presence of S, SO2, and CO2 at the Poles of the Moon Possibility of the Presence of S, SO2, and CO2 at the Poles of the Moon

Jun 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003pasj...55..859b&link_type=abstract

Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan, Vol.55, No.4, pp. 859-870

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

9

Astrochemistry -- Comets: General -- Gamma Rays: Theory -- Molecular Processes -- Moon

Scientific paper

The presence of volatiles near the lunar poles is considered. The chemical composition of a lunar atmosphere temporarily produced by comet impact is analyzed during the day and night. C-rich and long-period comets are insufficient sources of water ice on the Moon. O-rich short-period comets deliver significant amounts of H2O, CO2, SO2, and S to the Moon. An observable amount of polar hydrogen can be delivered to the Moon by a single impact of an O-rich short-period comet with diameter of 5km in the form of water ice. The areas where CO2 and SO2 ices are stable against a thermal sublimation are estimated to be 300 and 1500 km2, respectively. If water ice exists in the 2cm top regolith layer, CO2 and SO2 ices can be stable in the coldest parts of permanently shaded craters. The delivery rate of elemental sulfur near the poles is estimated to be 106g yr-1. The sulfur content is estimated to be as high as 1wt% in the polar regions. The SELENE gamma-ray spectrometer can detect sulfur polar caps on the Moon if the sulfur content is higher than 1wt%. This instrument can check the presence of hydrogen and minerals with the unusual chemical composition at the lunar poles.

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