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Evidence for Phyllosilicates near the Lunar South PoleWhile theoretically water ice could be stable in permanently shadowed areas near the lunar poles, there is conflicting observational evidence for the existence of water ice at either pole. Clementine's bistatic radar resumed a weak signal commensurate with water ice in the South Pole Aitken Basin; however, groundbased radar searches have not detected such a signal at either pole. Lunar Prospector measured large amounts of H (attributed to water) at both poles; however, Galileo near-infrared spectral measurements of the north polar region did not detect the prominent 3.0 micron absorption feature due to interlayer and adsorbed water in phyllosilicates. Evidence for the existence of water at the lunar poles is still ambiguous and controversial. We present evidence, based on the analysis of Galileo SSI images, for the presence of phyllosilicates near the lunar south pole. Using the color image sequence (560 nm, 670 nm, 756 nm, and 889 nm) of Lunmap 14 taken during the Galileo Earth-Moon pass I, we have identified areas that show evidence for a 0.7 microns absorption feature present in Fe-bearing phyllosilicates.
Document ID
19990046161
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Vilas, Faith
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX United States)
Jensen, E.
(Texas A&M Univ. College Station, TX United States)
Domingue, Deborah
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Laurel, MD United States)
McFadden, L.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD United States)
Coombs, Cassandraa
(Charleston Coll. Charleston, SC United States)
Mendell, Wendell
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1998
Publication Information
Publication: Workshop on New Views of the Moon: Integrated Remotely Sensed, Geophysical, and Sample Datasets
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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