Mapping of physical characteristics of the Moon's superficial layer and ultra-violet polarimetry from a lunar orbital station

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Astronomy and Astrophysics
1Vidmachenko, AP, 1Morozhenko, OV
1Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Kosm. nauka tehnol. 2004, 10 ;(5-6):021-026
https://doi.org/10.15407/knit2004.05.021
Publication Language: Russian
Abstract: 
Ground and space researches of the Moon allowed one to carry out large-scale mapping of its superficial layer. Morphological details of the Moon have various spectral reflective properties. Their characteristic features are decrease of its reflectivity from visual spectral region to ultra-violet one and absorption bands in near infra-red spectral region. This points to mineralogy of the Moon's surface. Morphological features with different optical and physical properties have different polarization. In the long-wave spectral region, the degree of polarization is practically identical for many details on the Moon's surface, but its values differ strongly in ultra-violet region. The phase curve in ultra-violet region allows one to determine the value of phase angle αmax  at which the maximal value of degree of polarization , Pmax  takes place, with error less than 1°. These optical parameters of the Moon's surface enable us to determine refraction indexes of its mineral particles, i. е., to make mapping of the Moon's minerals.
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