Illumination conditions within permanently shadowed regions at the lunar poles: implications for in-situ passive remote sensing
Abstract
This work quantifies the illumination received to permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) of the Moon where water ice has been detected. A scattering model is developed to understand the spatial, temporal and spectral distribution of scattered sunlight reaching the PSR; as well, we map the distribution of as FUV radiation from the interplanetary medium and starlight. These results are used to understand the optimal filter pairing for an passive remote imager operating on the surface seeking to detect water ice. We find significant seasonal variation of scattered sunlight within Shackleton Crater throughout the year which varies by more than a factor of 6 between summer and winter as well as a heterogeneous spatial distribution at the crater floor. The light received to the PSRs from FUV sources is small in comparison to that of IR scattered sunlight.
- Publication:
-
EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019
- Pub Date:
- September 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019EPSC...13..232K