Remotely distinguishing and mapping endogenic water on the Moon.

ABSTRACT: Water and/or hydroxyl detected remotely on the lunar surface originates from several sources: (i) comets and other exogenous debris; (ii) solar-wind implantation; (iii) the lunar interior. While each of these sources is interesting in its own right, distinguishing among them is critical for testing hypotheses for the origin and evolution of the Moon and our Solar System. Existing spacecraft observations are not of high enough spectral resolution to uniquely characterize the bonding energies of the hydroxyl molecules that have been detected. Nevertheless, the spatial distribution and associations of H, OH^- or H₂O with specific lunar lithologies provide some insight into the origin of lunar hydrous materials. The global distribution of OH^-/H₂O as d

SUBMITTER: Klima RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5394255 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature