Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Oct 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010dps....42.1807h&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #42, #18.07; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.979
Mathematics
Logic
Scientific paper
Lunar surface temperatures depend on the insolation cycle and a variety of surface properties of interest for science and exploration, including rock abundance and regolith density. Thermal waves generated by the 29-day lunar diurnal cycle affect the uppermost 10-100 cm of regolith, such that infrared brightness temperatures depend on the bulk thermal inertia of this layer. During a lunar eclipse, insolation rapidly decreases and later increases to pre-eclipse levels on time scales of a few hours, generating a high-frequency thermal wave only affecting the upper few millimeters of regolith. Observations of surface temperatures during this process could thus isolate the thermophysical properties of the very near surface. Moreover, high thermal inertia materials such as rocks and boulders will have a distinct thermal signature, since they cool much more slowly than the regolith. The Diviner Lunar Radiometer onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired the first thermal infrared measurements from orbit during a lunar eclipse, during the partial eclipses of December 31, 2009 and June 26, 2010. We report on the near-surface lunar thermal properties derived from these observations, which targeted several different terrain types, as well as two north polar craters observed to have anomalous radar polarization signals (Spudis et al. 2010). To interpret the data, we employed a thermal model including a simulated Earth passing in front of the Sun, the effects of local topography, and multiple orders of light scattering between surface elements (cf. Paige et al, this meeting). We will present maps of estimated rock abundance and regolith thermal inertia at several sites of interest, which will aid in understanding their geologic origins and evolution.
Bandfield Joshua L.
Elphic Richard C.
Greenhagen Benjamin T.
Hayne Paul
Paige David A.
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