Submicroscopic metallic iron in lunar soils estimated from the in situ spectra of the Chang'E‐3 mission

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 44; no. 8; pp. 3485 - 3492
• Main Authors: Wang, Zhenchao, Wu, Yunzhao, Blewett, David T., Cloutis, Edward A., Zheng, Yongchun, Chen, Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington John Wiley & Sons, Inc 28.04.2017
• Subjects: Infrared spectrometers; Iron; Lunar exploration; Lunar landing; Lunar regolith; Lunar roving vehicles; Lunar soil; Lunar spacecraft; Lunar surface; Lunar surface vehicles; Maturity; Near infrared radiation; Optical properties; Oxygen; Radiation; Radiative transfer; Reflectance; Regolith; Rocket exhaust; Soil; Space missions; Space weathering; Spectra; Turnover rate; Weathering

Submicroscopic metallic iron (SMFe) created by space weathering has strong effects on the optical properties of the lunar surface. Spectra measured in situ by the visible‐near‐infrared spectrometer (VNIS) on board the Chang'E‐3 Yutu rover were used to investigate optical maturity differences at...