Other
Scientific paper
Dec 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufm.u31a0016g&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #U31A-0016
Other
[5410] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Composition, [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
The Diviner Lunar Radiometer was launched onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and has been collecting science data since July 6th, 2009. In five months of operations (July to December, 2009), Diviner will have already observed the lunar surface at most local times (daytime from 07:00 to 17:40 and nighttime from 19:00 to 05:40). Diviner’s earliest data were collected during commissioning when the spacecraft orbit varied with latitude between approximately 30 and 210 km (variable 135 x 270 m to 680 x 1340 m spatial resolution and 2.9 to 14.3 km swath width). In mid September, LRO will enter its mapping phase with an approximately 50 km circular orbit (uniform 160 x 320 m spatial resolution and 3.4 km swath width). Diviner’s Compositional Investigation uses multispectral thermal infrared (7.55 - 400 μm) observations to constrain the composition of the lunar surface. Diviner has three channels near 8 microns (7.55-8.05, 8.1-8.4, and 8.4-8.7 μm) and is the first lunar orbiting instrument to identify the Christiansen feature (CF), the mid-infrared emissivity maximum, which can be used to identify bulk composition. Diviner is also be the first lunar orbiting instrument to measure thermal emission between 13 and 400 μm using multiple channels (13-23, 25-41, 50-100, and 100-400 μm). These unique data, along with Diviner broadband solar reflectance measurements (0.3-2.8 μm), are sensitive to different aspects of composition. For lunar surface observations and laboratory measurements in a simulated lunar environment, the CF is the largest, most distinct mid-infrared emissivity spectral feature. To first order, the CF is related to silicate polymerization and is located at shorter wavelengths for framework silicates, such as quartz and plagioclase (i.e. feldspathic lunar rocks), and longer wavelengths for lower order silicate minerals, such as pyroxene and olivine (i.e. mafic lunar rocks). The CF shape and position also contain information regarding regolith particle size and texture. The early Diviner dataset includes lunar local times near midday for low and mid-latitudes where the Compositional Investigation dataset has highest fidelity and lowest compositional uncertainties. Additionally, the local times beyond midday include interesting variations likely due to thermophysical properties such as rock abundance and surface roughness. We have successfully mapped the location of the CF using the 8 micron channels. To first order, Diviner data show shorter wavelength CF for highland materials and longer wavelength CF for mare materials. In detail, the Compositional Investigation’s global, regional, and local maps also show novel differences relative to other remote sensing techniques that can help further constrain lunar surface composition. This presentation will highlight early Compositional Investigation science results.
Allen Christine
Bandfield Joshua L.
Bowles Neil E.
Donaldson Hanna Kerri L.
Glotch Timothy D.
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