'Exciting' news from SOFIA, about the Moon |
'Exciting' news from SOFIA, about the Moon |
Oct 22 2020, 02:26 AM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 401 Joined: 5-January 07 From: Manchester England Member No.: 1563 |
This has just popped up in my news feed: NASA will be making an 'exciting' announcement regarding SOFIA observations of the Moon on the 26th... And that's more or less all we've got. Given what we know about the wavelengths SOFIA uses, and observation campaigns it's been used for that might be relevant to the Moon, I wondered if anyone might have any insight?
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Oct 26 2020, 04:23 PM
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#2
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Member Group: Members Posts: 401 Joined: 5-January 07 From: Manchester England Member No.: 1563 |
The SOFIA related paper from the announcement:
QUOTE Molecular water detected on the sunlit Moon by SOFIA
Widespread hydration was detected on the lunar surface through observations of a characteristic absorption feature at 3 µm by three independent spacecraft1,2,3. Whether the hydration is molecular water (H2O) or other hydroxyl (OH) compounds is unknown and there are no established methods to distinguish the two using the 3 µm band4. However, a fundamental vibration of molecular water produces a spectral signature at 6 µm that is not shared by other hydroxyl compounds5. Here, we present observations of the Moon at 6 µm using the NASA/DLR Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). Observations reveal a 6 µm emission feature at high lunar latitudes due to the presence of molecular water on the lunar surface. On the basis of the strength of the 6 µm band, we estimate abundances of about 100 to 400 µg g−1 H2O. We find that the distribution of water over the small latitude range is a result of local geology and is probably not a global phenomenon. Lastly, we suggest that a majority of the water we detect must be stored within glasses or in voids between grains sheltered from the harsh lunar environment, allowing the water to remain on the lunar surface. -------------------- |
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Oct 27 2020, 05:21 AM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 362 Joined: 12-June 05 From: Kiama, Australia Member No.: 409 |
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Oct 27 2020, 02:00 PM
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#4
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 28 Joined: 17-April 08 From: Okemos, MI, USA Member No.: 4097 |
100-400g per ton of regolith, possibly only 1L for every 10T, not a lot. The news media is overblowning the significance. Unlikely to be able to collect enough economically to produce rocket fuel. Of course, you don't have to sample random patches of lunar regolith when you're trying to mine water. The paper indicates that most of the water is expected to be found in glassy ejecta, where it occurs in concentrations up to 1300 µg/g. You would simply set down your solar-powered mining apparatus in the region of highest concentration. Compared to finding or transporting power into a permanently shadowed crater, it may be much more convenient. |
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