Geological context of potential landing site of the Luna-Glob mission
The region planned for performing the Luna-Glob mission is located in the southern part of the swell surrounding the largest South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin. The photogeological analysis of the surface topography of this region using the LRO-WAC (resolution of 100 Mpxl) photomaps made it possible to d...
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ftcaltechauth:oai:authors.library.caltech.edu:ng582-qq154 2024-10-13T14:10:51+00:00 Geological context of potential landing site of the Luna-Glob mission Ivanov, M. A. Abdrakhimov, A. M. Basilevsky, A. T. Dixon, J. L. Head, J. W. Chick, L. Vitten, J. Zuber, M. T. Simt, D. E. Mazarico, E. Neish, C. D. Bassey, D. B. J. 2014-11 https://doi.org/10.1134/S0038094614060021 unknown Springer https://doi.org/10.1134/S0038094614060021 eprintid:72452 info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess Other Solar System Research, 48(6), 391-402, (2014-11) info:eu-repo/semantics/article 2014 ftcaltechauth https://doi.org/10.1134/S0038094614060021 2024-09-25T18:46:40Z The region planned for performing the Luna-Glob mission is located in the southern part of the swell surrounding the largest South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin. The photogeological analysis of the surface topography of this region using the LRO-WAC (resolution of 100 Mpxl) photomaps made it possible to define the following groups of morphological units (area types): (1) related to the formation of relatively fresh impact craters; (2) associated with larger (>100 km across) degraded craters including (2a) external and (2b) inner facies; and (3) occupying intercrater spaces. The comparison of the geological map with the map illustrating the distribution of the epithermal neutron flow (Mitrofanov et al., 2012) shows no correlation between them. Consequently, one should not expect development of rock complexes, which would be characterized by elevated concentrations of water in the region chosen for the Luna-Glob mission and, thus, considered among the first-priority targets. The comparison of the neutron flow distribution with the map of circular polarization of the Mini-RF radar beam also shows no correlation. This means that high values of circular polarization reflect elevated concentrations of rock fragments rather than water accumulations. Even though ice fragments are present, their sizes should only slightly be less as compared with the radar wavelength (12.6 cm). The region planned for investigations in the scope of the Luna-Glob mission corresponds to the swell of the largest (and, likely, oldest) preserved basin and offers a potential opportunity to analyze ancient material of this planet and introduce important constraints into the spectrum of models proposed for explaining the Moon's origin. © 2014 Pleiades Publishing, Inc. Received July 18, 3014. First Online: 12 November 2014. Photogeological analysis of the potential region of landing of Luna-Glob expedition made by M.A. Ivanov and A.T. Basilevsky supported by the grant of the Russian Science Foundation (project no. 14-22-00197). Article in Journal/Newspaper South pole Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology) South Pole Aitken ENVELOPE(-44.516,-44.516,-60.733,-60.733) Pleiades ENVELOPE(165.533,165.533,-72.700,-72.700) Solar System Research 48 6 391 402 |
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Open Polar |
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Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology) |
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ftcaltechauth |
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description |
The region planned for performing the Luna-Glob mission is located in the southern part of the swell surrounding the largest South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin. The photogeological analysis of the surface topography of this region using the LRO-WAC (resolution of 100 Mpxl) photomaps made it possible to define the following groups of morphological units (area types): (1) related to the formation of relatively fresh impact craters; (2) associated with larger (>100 km across) degraded craters including (2a) external and (2b) inner facies; and (3) occupying intercrater spaces. The comparison of the geological map with the map illustrating the distribution of the epithermal neutron flow (Mitrofanov et al., 2012) shows no correlation between them. Consequently, one should not expect development of rock complexes, which would be characterized by elevated concentrations of water in the region chosen for the Luna-Glob mission and, thus, considered among the first-priority targets. The comparison of the neutron flow distribution with the map of circular polarization of the Mini-RF radar beam also shows no correlation. This means that high values of circular polarization reflect elevated concentrations of rock fragments rather than water accumulations. Even though ice fragments are present, their sizes should only slightly be less as compared with the radar wavelength (12.6 cm). The region planned for investigations in the scope of the Luna-Glob mission corresponds to the swell of the largest (and, likely, oldest) preserved basin and offers a potential opportunity to analyze ancient material of this planet and introduce important constraints into the spectrum of models proposed for explaining the Moon's origin. © 2014 Pleiades Publishing, Inc. Received July 18, 3014. First Online: 12 November 2014. Photogeological analysis of the potential region of landing of Luna-Glob expedition made by M.A. Ivanov and A.T. Basilevsky supported by the grant of the Russian Science Foundation (project no. 14-22-00197). |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ivanov, M. A. Abdrakhimov, A. M. Basilevsky, A. T. Dixon, J. L. Head, J. W. Chick, L. Vitten, J. Zuber, M. T. Simt, D. E. Mazarico, E. Neish, C. D. Bassey, D. B. J. |
spellingShingle |
Ivanov, M. A. Abdrakhimov, A. M. Basilevsky, A. T. Dixon, J. L. Head, J. W. Chick, L. Vitten, J. Zuber, M. T. Simt, D. E. Mazarico, E. Neish, C. D. Bassey, D. B. J. Geological context of potential landing site of the Luna-Glob mission |
author_facet |
Ivanov, M. A. Abdrakhimov, A. M. Basilevsky, A. T. Dixon, J. L. Head, J. W. Chick, L. Vitten, J. Zuber, M. T. Simt, D. E. Mazarico, E. Neish, C. D. Bassey, D. B. J. |
author_sort |
Ivanov, M. A. |
title |
Geological context of potential landing site of the Luna-Glob mission |
title_short |
Geological context of potential landing site of the Luna-Glob mission |
title_full |
Geological context of potential landing site of the Luna-Glob mission |
title_fullStr |
Geological context of potential landing site of the Luna-Glob mission |
title_full_unstemmed |
Geological context of potential landing site of the Luna-Glob mission |
title_sort |
geological context of potential landing site of the luna-glob mission |
publisher |
Springer |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1134/S0038094614060021 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-44.516,-44.516,-60.733,-60.733) ENVELOPE(165.533,165.533,-72.700,-72.700) |
geographic |
South Pole Aitken Pleiades |
geographic_facet |
South Pole Aitken Pleiades |
genre |
South pole |
genre_facet |
South pole |
op_source |
Solar System Research, 48(6), 391-402, (2014-11) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1134/S0038094614060021 eprintid:72452 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess Other |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1134/S0038094614060021 |
container_title |
Solar System Research |
container_volume |
48 |
container_issue |
6 |
container_start_page |
391 |
op_container_end_page |
402 |
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1812818380195889152 |