The Distribution of Molecular Water in the Lunar South Polar Region Based upon 6 μm Spectroscopic Imaging
The amount and distribution of water on the lunar surface are related to the input and production of water by solar wind and meteoroid bombardment, balanced by photodestruction and mobility across the surface. Using the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), we imaged the 6.1 μ m...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2023-01-01
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| Series: | The Planetary Science Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/acbdf2 |
| _version_ | 1797327533039943680 |
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| author | William T. Reach Paul G. Lucey Casey I. Honniball Anicia Arredondo Erick R. Malaret |
| author_facet | William T. Reach Paul G. Lucey Casey I. Honniball Anicia Arredondo Erick R. Malaret |
| author_sort | William T. Reach |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The amount and distribution of water on the lunar surface are related to the input and production of water by solar wind and meteoroid bombardment, balanced by photodestruction and mobility across the surface. Using the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), we imaged the 6.1 μ m feature that uniquely traces molecular water, covering 1/4 of the lunar nearside surface south of −60° latitude with 5 km resolution on 2022 February 17 UTC. The water feature strength varies significantly across the region, being drier at +28° longitude to more wet (170 ppm) at −7° longitude, and also decreasing toward the pole. Significant local enhancements are found, associated with south-facing, high-altitude topographic features. This includes relatively high H _2 O concentrations in a “wet ridge” just north of the Curtius crater; the south-facing, northern, inner rims of the most prominent craters; the south face of the central peak of the Moretus crater; and permanently shadowed polar regions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:39:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2250a401901041209c300d9cdc3af744 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2632-3338 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:39:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Planetary Science Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-2250a401901041209c300d9cdc3af7442024-02-03T09:14:04ZengIOP PublishingThe Planetary Science Journal2632-33382023-01-01434510.3847/PSJ/acbdf2The Distribution of Molecular Water in the Lunar South Polar Region Based upon 6 μm Spectroscopic ImagingWilliam T. Reach0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8362-4094Paul G. Lucey1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4959-2495Casey I. Honniball2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8248-8991Anicia Arredondo3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1706-6255Erick R. Malaret4Universities Space Research Association , NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USAHawai’i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa , Honolulu, HI, USANASA Goddard Space Flight Center , Greenbelt, MD, USASouthwest Research Institute , San Antonio, TX, USAApplied Coherent Technology , Herndon, VA, USAThe amount and distribution of water on the lunar surface are related to the input and production of water by solar wind and meteoroid bombardment, balanced by photodestruction and mobility across the surface. Using the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), we imaged the 6.1 μ m feature that uniquely traces molecular water, covering 1/4 of the lunar nearside surface south of −60° latitude with 5 km resolution on 2022 February 17 UTC. The water feature strength varies significantly across the region, being drier at +28° longitude to more wet (170 ppm) at −7° longitude, and also decreasing toward the pole. Significant local enhancements are found, associated with south-facing, high-altitude topographic features. This includes relatively high H _2 O concentrations in a “wet ridge” just north of the Curtius crater; the south-facing, northern, inner rims of the most prominent craters; the south face of the central peak of the Moretus crater; and permanently shadowed polar regions.https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/acbdf2Earth-moon systemLunar compositionLunar surface |
| spellingShingle | William T. Reach Paul G. Lucey Casey I. Honniball Anicia Arredondo Erick R. Malaret The Distribution of Molecular Water in the Lunar South Polar Region Based upon 6 μm Spectroscopic Imaging The Planetary Science Journal Earth-moon system Lunar composition Lunar surface |
| title | The Distribution of Molecular Water in the Lunar South Polar Region Based upon 6 μm Spectroscopic Imaging |
| title_full | The Distribution of Molecular Water in the Lunar South Polar Region Based upon 6 μm Spectroscopic Imaging |
| title_fullStr | The Distribution of Molecular Water in the Lunar South Polar Region Based upon 6 μm Spectroscopic Imaging |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Distribution of Molecular Water in the Lunar South Polar Region Based upon 6 μm Spectroscopic Imaging |
| title_short | The Distribution of Molecular Water in the Lunar South Polar Region Based upon 6 μm Spectroscopic Imaging |
| title_sort | distribution of molecular water in the lunar south polar region based upon 6 μm spectroscopic imaging |
| topic | Earth-moon system Lunar composition Lunar surface |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/acbdf2 |
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