Elliptical structure of the lunar South Pole-Aitken basin   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  

Ian Garrick-Bethell  Maria T. Zuber 《Icarus》2009,204(2):399-408

The South Pole-Aitken basin (SP-A) is the largest and oldest basin on the Moon. The basin has usually been interpreted to exhibit a degraded circular structure, but here we demonstrate that the topography, iron and thorium signatures of the basin are well described by ellipses with axes measuring 2400 by 2050 km and centered at −53°, 191°E. Topography, abundances of iron, thorium, and the distribution of mare basalts are all elevated in the northern halves of the ellipses. We also identify an outer topographic ellipse whose semiminor axis scales with the main topographic ellipse by approximately . Taken together, these data imply that the basin was created by an oblique impact along an azimuth of approximately 19°, measured counterclockwise from longitude 191°E. The geometry of the elevated central farside topography surrounding SP-A suggests that it predates the impact. The elliptical ring structures of SP-A and their scaling relationships will help to understand the formation of large and elliptical basins elsewhere in the Solar System. This refined basin shape will also inform local geology, geochemistry, and geophysics of the region.  相似文献   

月海玄武岩与月球演化   总被引：6，自引：0，他引：6  

徐义刚 《地球化学》2010,39(1):50-62

月海玄武岩主要产于月球近边的盆地中,覆盖面积为月球表面的l％,其形成年龄多在39～31亿年之间,是各类月岩中最年轻的。与地球玄武岩相似,月海玄武岩由斜长石、辉石和橄榄石组成,但它们比地球玄武岩具有更低的Mg#、A1：0,、K和Na含量．高的FeO含量（大于16％）和变化范围大的TiO2含量（小于l％到大于13％）。根据TiO2含量的变化,月海玄武岩分成高Ti（〉6％）,低Ti（1．5％〈TiO：〈6％）以及极低Ti（〈1．5％）三类。所有月海玄武岩都具有Eu负异常,并亏损挥发性元素和亲铁元素。月海玄武岩的同位素特征指示其至少为三个组分混合的产物：（1）高：238U／204Pb、高87Sr／86Sr和负εNd组分,可能是岩浆海分异的残余岩浆即KREEP;（2）低：238U／204Pb、低87Sr／86sr和正εNd组分,来源于原始月幔,其熔融产物为低Ⅱ玄武岩;（3）中等87Sr／86Sr和εNd组分,位于月幔的顶部,经历了岩浆海（洋）过程中形成的堆晶物质的再熔融,还可能受到了陨击事件的影响,其熔融产物是高Ti玄武岩。月海玄武岩的元素和同位素地球化学性质支持岩浆海的假说,其源区的形成与岩浆海的分异密切相关,并经历了三个阶段：（a）岩浆海阶段,通过岩浆海的结晶分异形成顶部为斜长岩月壳,中间为高Ⅱ、富钛铁矿层,底部为巨厚的硅酸盐低Ti层的三层壳幔结构;（b）富钛铁矿堆晶岩（携带少量残余熔体）因密度大而下沉至下部的硅酸盐月幔（400km以下）;（C）月幔中这些不同源区的岩石发生减压熔融。早期由较浅的低熔点组分熔融形成低K高Ti玄武岩,之后形成来源较深的高Ti玄武岩和低Ti玄武岩。  相似文献   

Minerals mapping of the lunar surface with Clementine UVVIS/NIR data based on spectra unmixing method and Hapke model   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

Bokun Yan  Runsheng Wang  Fuping Gan  Zhenchao Wang 《Icarus》2010,208(1):11-19

The distribution of minerals on the lunar surface is information which could contribute to studying lunar origin and evolution. In this paper, the distribution of clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, olivine, ilmenite, and plagioclase on the lunar surface has been mapped based on Hapke radiative transfer model and linear unmixing of spectra with Clementine UVVIS/NIR data. The results have been validated on the basis of minerals modal abundance data of the Apollo samples, and problems in the minerals abundance mapping have been analyzed. The validation based on analysis data of Apollo samples indicates that plagioclase mapped in this paper represents the total abundance of plagioclase and agglutinitic glass. The minerals mapping results show that the lunar surface is mainly composed of pyroxene, plagioclase, agglutinitic glass, and ilmenite. Basalt in the lunar mare is mainly composed of clinopyroxene and ilmenite, and lunar highland is mainly composed of plagioclase and agglutinitic glass. Orthopyroxene is mainly distributed on the north of Mare Imbrium, on the south of Maria and Aitken Basin. According to our results, there is probably no large area of olivine distribution on the lunar surface which is different from earlier published results. Therefore, emphasis should be put on the olivine distribution in the minerals mapping using hyperspectral data such as M³ of Chandrayaan-1 and IIM of ChangE-1.  相似文献   

Illumination conditions of the south pole of the Moon derived using Kaguya topography   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

D.B.J. Bussey  J.A. McGovern  C.D. Neish  Y. Ishihara 《Icarus》2010,208(2):558-564

We have used the Kaguya laser altimeter-derived topography to conduct a comprehensive study of the illumination conditions at the Moon’s south pole. We have determined, by comparing simulated and actual Clementine images, that the Kaguya topography can be used to generate realistic illumination conditions. We generated an average illumination map for the year 2020 for the lunar south pole region. From this we identified the areas that receive the most illumination. The place receiving the most illumination (86% of the year) is located close to the rim of Shackleton crater at 88.74°S 124.5°E. However two other areas, less than 10 km apart from each other, are collectively lit for 94% of the year. We found that sites exist near the south pole that are continuously lit for several months during summer. We were also able to map the locations and durations of eclipse periods for these areas. Finally we analyzed the seasonal variations in lighting conditions, from summer to winter, for key areas near the south pole. We conclude that areas exist near the south pole that have illumination conditions that make them ideal candidates as future outpost sites.  相似文献   

Earth-based 12.6-cm wavelength radar mapping of the Moon: New views of impact melt distribution and mare physical properties     

Bruce A. Campbell  Lynn M. Carter  Michael Nolan  Rebecca R. Ghent  Ross F. Anderson 《Icarus》2010,208(2):565-181

We present results of a campaign to map much of the Moon’s near side using the 12.6-cm radar transmitter at Arecibo Observatory and receivers at the Green Bank Telescope. These data have a single-look spatial resolution of about 40 m, with final maps averaged to an 80-m, four-look product to reduce image speckle. Focused processing is used to obtain this high spatial resolution over the entire region illuminated by the Arecibo beam. The transmitted signal is circularly polarized, and we receive reflections in both senses of circular polarization; measurements of receiver thermal noise during periods with no lunar echoes allow well-calibrated estimates of the circular polarization ratio (CPR) and the four-element Stokes vector. Radiometric calibration to values of the backscatter coefficient is ongoing. Radar backscatter data for the Moon provide information on regolith dielectric and physical properties, with particular sensitivity to ilmenite content and surface or buried rocks with diameter of about one-tenth the radar wavelength and larger.Average 12.6-cm circular polarization ratio (CPR) values for low- to moderate-TiO₂ mare basalt deposits are similar to those of rough terrestrial lava flows. We attribute these high values to abundant few-centimeter diameter rocks from small impacts and a significant component of subsurface volume scattering. An outflow deposit, inferred to be impact melt, from Glushko crater has CPR values near unity at 12.6-cm and 70-cm wavelengths and thus a very rugged near-surface structure at the decimeter to meter scale. This deposit does not show radar-brightness variations consistent with levees or channels, and appears to nearly overtop a massif, suggesting very rapid emplacement. Deposits of similar morphology and/or radar brightness are noted for craters such as Pythagoras, Rutherfurd, Theophilus, and Aristillus. Images of the north pole show that, despite recording the deposition of Orientale material, Byrd and Peary craters do not have dense patterns of radar-bright ejecta from small craters on their floors. Such patterns in Amundsen crater, near the south pole, were interpreted as diagnostic of abundant impact melt, so the fraction of Orientale-derived melt in the north polar smooth plains, 1000 km farther from the basin center, is inferred to be much lower.  相似文献   

Field geology on the Moon: Some lessons learned from the exploration of the Haughton impact structure, Devon Island, Canadian High Arctic     

Gordon R. Osinski  Pascal Lee  Kelly Snook  Darlene S.S. Lim 《Planetary and Space Science》2010,58(4):646-48

With the prospect of humans returning to Moon by the end of the next decade, considerable attention is being paid to technologies required to transport astronauts to the lunar surface and then to be able to carry out surface science. Recent and ongoing initiatives have focused on scientific questions to be asked. In contrast, few studies have addressed how these scientific priorities will be achieved. In this contribution, we provide some of the lessons learned from the exploration of the Haughton impact structure, an ideal lunar analogue site in the Canadian Arctic. Essentially, by studying how geologists carry out field science, we can provide guidelines for lunar surface operations. Our goal in this contribution is to inform the engineers and managers involved in mission planning, rather than the field geology community. Our results show that the exploration of the Haughton impact structure can be broken down into 3 distinct phases: (1) reconnaissance; (2) systematic regional-scale mapping and sampling; and (3) detailed local-scale mapping and sampling. This break down is similar to the classic scientific method practiced by field geologists of regional exploratory mapping followed by directed mapping at a local scale, except that we distinguish between two different phases of exploratory mapping. Our data show that the number of stops versus the number of samples collected versus the amount of data collected varied depending on the mission phase, as does the total distance covered per EVA. Thus, operational scenarios could take these differences into account, depending on the goals and duration of the mission. Important lessons learned include the need for flexibility in mission planning in order to account for serendipitous discoveries, the highlighting of key “science supersites” that may require return visits, the need for a rugged but simple human-operated rover, laboratory space in the habitat, and adequate room for returned samples, both in the habitat and in the return vehicle. The proposed set of recommendations ideally should be tried and tested in future analogue missions at terrestrial impact sites prior to planetary missions.  相似文献   

Optical scattering processes observed at the Moon: Predictions for the LADEE Ultraviolet Spectrometer     

Timothy J. Stubbs  David A. Glenar  Anthony Colaprete  Denis T. Richard 《Planetary and Space Science》2010,58(5):830-1934

The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft will orbit the Moon at an altitude of ≈50 km with a payload that includes the Ultraviolet Spectrometer (UVS) instrument, which will obtain high spectral resolution measurements at near-ultraviolet and visible wavelengths (≈231-826 nm). When LADEE/UVS observes the lunar limb from within the shadow of the Moon it is anticipated that it will detect a lunar horizon glow (LHG) due to sunlight scattered from submicron exospheric dust, as well as emission lines from exospheric gases (particularly sodium), in the presence of the bright coronal and zodiacal light (CZL) background. A modularized code has been developed at NMSU for simulations of scattered light sources as observed by orbiting instruments in lunar shadow. Predictions for the LADEE UVS and star tracker cameras indicate that LHG, sodium (Na) emission lines, and CZL can be distinguished based on spatial morphology and spectral characteristics, with LHG dominant at blue wavelengths (∼250-450 nm) and small tangent heights. If present, LHG should be readily detected by LADEE/UVS and distinguishable from other sources of optical scattering. Observations from UVS and the other instruments aboard LADEE will significantly advance our understanding of how the Moon interacts with the surrounding space environment; these new insights will be applicable to the many other airless bodies in the solar system.  相似文献   

Variation in lunar sodium exosphere measured from lunar orbiter SELENE (Kaguya)     

M. Kagitani  M. Taguchi  I. Yoshikawa  K. Yoshioka  S. Okano 《Planetary and Space Science》2010,58(12):1660-1664

Resonant scattering of the lunar sodium exosphere was measured from the lunar orbiter SELENE (Kaguya) from December 2008 to June 2009. Variations in line-of-sight integrated intensity measured on the night-side hemisphere of the Moon could be described as a spherical symmetric distribution of the sodium exosphere with a temperature of 2400-6000 K. Average surface density of sodium atoms in February is well above that in the other months by about 30%. A clear variation in surface density related to the Moon’s passage across the Earth’s magnetotail could not be seen, although sodium density gradually decreased (by 20±8%) during periods from the first through the last quarter of two lunar cycles. These results suggest that the supra-thermal components of the sodium exosphere are not mainly produced by classical sputtering of solar wind. The variation in sodium density (which depends on lunar-phase angle) is possibly explained by the presence of an inhomogeneous source distribution of photon-stimulated desorption (PSD) on the surface.  相似文献   

A Large Basin on the Near Side of the Moon     

Charles Joseph Byrne 《Earth, Moon, and Planets》2007,101(3-4):153-188

The differences between the surface structure of the near side and the far side of the Moon have been topics of interest ever since photographs of the far side have been available. One recurrent hypothesis is that a large impact on the near side has deposited ejecta on the far side, resulting in thicker crust there. Specific proposals were made by P.H. Cadogan for the Gargantuan Basin and by E.A. Whitaker for the Procellarum Basin. Despite considerable effort, no consensus has been reached on the existence of these basins. The problem of searching for such a basin is one of finding its signature in a somewhat chaotic field of basin and crater impacts. The search requires a model of the topographic shape of an impact basin and its ejecta field. Such a model is described, based on elevation data of lunar basins collected by the Lidar instrument of the Clementine mission and crustal thickness data derived from tracking Clementine and other spacecraft. The parameters of the model are scaled according to the principles of dimensional analysis and isostatic compensation in the early Moon. The orbital dynamics of the ejecta and the curvature of the Moon are also taken into account. Using such a scaled model, a search for the best fit for a large basin led to identification of a basin whose cavity covers more than half the Moon, including the area of all of the impact basins visible on the near side. The center of this basin is at 22 degrees east longitude and 8.5 degrees north latitude and its average radius is approximately 3,160 km. It is a megabasin, a basin that contains other basins (the far side South Pole-Aitken Basin also qualifies for that designation). It has been called the Near Side Megabasin. Much of the material ejected from the basin escaped the Moon, but the remainder formed an ejecta blanket that covered all of the far side beyond the basin rim to a depth of from 6 to 30 km. Isostatic compensation reduced the depth relative to the mean surface to a range of 1–5 km, but the crustal thickness data reveals the full extent of the original ejecta. The elevation profile of the ejecta deposited on the far side, together with modification for subsequent impacts by known basins (especially the far side South Pole-Aitken Basin) matches the available topographic data to a high degree. The standard deviation of the residual elevations (after subtracting the model from the measured elevations) is about one-half of the standard deviation of the measured elevations. A section on implications discusses the relations of this giant basin to known variations in the composition, mineralogy, and elevations of different lunar terranes.  相似文献   

Hard X-ray emission of the Earth's atmosphere: Monte Carlo simulations     

S. Sazonov  E. Churazov  R. Sunyaev  M. Revnivtsev 《Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society》2007,377(4):1726-1736

We perform Monte Carlo simulations of cosmic ray-induced hard X-ray radiation from the Earth's atmosphere. We find that the shape of the spectrum emergent from the atmosphere in the energy range 25–300 keV is mainly determined by Compton scatterings and photoabsorption, and is almost insensitive to the incident cosmic ray spectrum. We provide a fitting formula for the hard X-ray surface brightness of the atmosphere as would be measured by a satellite-borne instrument, as a function of energy, solar modulation level, geomagnetic cut-off rigidity and zenith angle. A recent measurement by the INTEGRAL observatory of the atmospheric hard X-ray flux during the occultation of the cosmic X-ray background by the Earth agrees with our prediction within 10 per cent. This suggests that Earth observations could be used for in-orbit calibration of future hard X-ray telescopes. We also demonstrate that the hard X-ray spectra generated by cosmic rays in the crusts of the Moon, Mars and Mercury should be significantly different from that emitted by the Earth's atmosphere.  相似文献