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Updated: Jul 12, 2026
06:14
Simulating Imaging of Large Scale Radio Arrays on the Lunar Surface
Published on: July 30, 2020
Spectral reflectivity of lunar samples.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 30, 1970
Summary
Remote analysis of lunar rock and fines reveals electronic absorption bands, confirming mineralogy. These findings support using telescopic reflectivity measurements for remote mineral identification on celestial bodies.
Area of Science:
- Geology
- Planetary Science
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Lunar samples exhibit electronic absorption bands in diffuse reflected light.
- Previous telescopic data provided predictions of lunar surface mineralogy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the spectral properties of lunar rock and fines.
- To correlate laboratory spectral data with telescopic observations.
- To assess the feasibility of remote mineralogical analysis.
Main Methods:
- Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy of twelve rock chips and two fines samples.
- Analysis of electronic absorption bands between 0.32 and 2.5 micrometers.
- Comparison of sample spectral data with telescopic curves.
Main Results:
- Observed major absorption bands at 0.94-1.00 µm and 2.0 µm, attributed to Fe(2+) in clinopyroxene and olivine.
- A 0.95 µm band and spectral curve features in lunar fines matched telescopic data.
- Spectral data confirmed mineralogical predictions derived from telescopic observations.
Conclusions:
- Laboratory spectral analysis of lunar samples validates remote sensing mineralogical predictions.
- Reflectivity measurements are a feasible method for obtaining lunar mineralogical information.
- This study supports the use of remote sensing for planetary surface composition analysis.
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