Other
Scientific paper
Jan 1998
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998nvmi.confq..33g&link_type=abstract
Workshop on New Views of the Moon: Integrated Remotely Sensed, Geophysical, and Sample Datasets, p. 33
Other
Color, Lunar Craters, Lunar Surface, Time Measurement, Geochronology, Selenology, Lunar Geology, Clementine Spacecraft, Geographic Information Systems, Radiometers, Impactors
Scientific paper
To determine the flux of impactors onto the lunar and the terrestrial surface in recent (about 600 Ma) time, believable, absolute ages for a vast number of bright-rayed craters on the lunar surface are needed. Ideally, absolute ages can be determined by obtaining samples from each crater, radiometrially dating them, and then extrapolating an impactor flux. Realistically, it is clear that only a small number of the larger lunar craters can and will be radiometrically dated. The smaller craters are also of interest, since they will reflect the bulk of any very recent impactor population. Thus, large numbers of dates cannot be generated solely by this method. On the other hand, a large number of relative ages can conceiveably be generated by examination of lunar spacecraft spectral data with near global coverage. The Clementine color dataset provides global lunar coverage and appropriate spatial resolution to undertake such a survey. The Optical Maturity Parameter (OMAT) appears to be a possible tool for assisting in the determination of the relative ages of bright-rayed craters, but the limitations and applicability of this tool for such a survey need to be determined. An extensive survey of bright-rayed craters down to small sizes (1 km or less) will be conducted using the Clementine color data. A relative crater chronology will be generated using several tools, including super positioning of rays, OMAT images, current age estimates for craters, current estimates for the rates of soil maturization, etc. The radiometric ages from known craters included in the survey will allow this relative chronology to be constrained absolutely and a crater flux to be generated. Such an endeavor, if successfully carried out, would have far-reaching significance in understanding recent/ future cratering on the Earth and Moon, and in the interpretation of cratered surfaces and crater chronologies. Toward this end, initially, we conducted a survey of bright lunar craters in the 750-nm UVVIS in order to take a preliminary look at the size-frequency distribution of bright craters down to very small sizes, and to explore possible biases such as phase angle and background terrain.
Grier Jennifer Ann
Lucey Paul G.
McEwen Alfred S.
Ström Richard
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