Langrenus: Transient Illuminations on the Moon

Dollfus, Audouin

doi:10.1006/icar.2000.6395

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Each figure produces the nonpolarized image I , the degree of polarization image Q/I , and the flux of polarized light image Q 0 . The transient brightenings discovered on the floor of Langrenus at the occasion of these observations (Dollfus 1999b(Dollfus , 2000 are visible north of the central peak, on the images of December 30, 1992, and January 2, 1993.…”

Section: The Polarigraphic Analysismentioning

confidence: 88%

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Lunar Surface Imaging Polarimetry. III. Langrenus

Dollfus¹

2000

Icarus

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Section: The Polarigraphic Analysismentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Transient illuminations were unexpectedly discovered at the occasion of these observations on the floor of Langrenus on December 30, 1992, and again on January 2, 1993 (Dollfus 1999b(Dollfus , 2000. They will be analyzed in a subsequent paper in this issue (Dollfus 2000).…”

mentioning

confidence: 86%

Lunar Surface Imaging Polarimetry. III. Langrenus

Dollfus¹

2000

Icarus

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“…An LTP recently observed near the central peak of the Langrenus crater has been ascribed to outgassing from a terrain that is heavily fractured and fissured (Dollfus 2000). An increase in albedo and polarization was attributed to light scattering by suspended particles.…”

Section: Fig 6-continuedmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Several gaseous spectra and electronic photometric measurements of events have been obtained by professional astronomers (Kozyrev 1959, Sanduleak andStock 1965). Interest in LTP has dwindled over the past two decades, even as additional observations continue to be made (e.g., Kolovos et al 1988, 1992, Dollfus 2000. No completely satisfactory explanation for LTP has ever been published, and most lunar geologists and professional astronomers express skepticism about them.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Lunar Transient Phenomena: What Do the Clementine Images Reveal?

Buratti

McConnochie

Calkins

et al. 2000

Icarus

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“…IR hydration band near 3.4 μm 9 Multiple monitors can image TLPs in different bands or polarizations. TLP polarimetric anomalies (Dollfus 2000) occur on uncertain timescales (0.01-1 d). Other polarimetric transients (Dzhapiashvili & Ksanfomaliti 1962;Lipsky & Pospergelis 1966) are less constrained temporally.…”

Section: Ground-based Spectroscopic/hyperspectral Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lunar Outgassing, Transient Phenomena, and the Return to the Moon. Ii. Predictions and Tests for Outgassing/Regolith Interactions

Crotts

Hummels

2009

ApJ

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We follow Paper I with predictions of how gas leaking through the lunar surface could influence the regolith, as might be observed via optical transient lunar phenomena (TLPs) and related effects. We touch on several processes, but concentrate on low and high flow rate extremes, which are perhaps the most likely. We model explosive outgassing for the smallest gas overpressure at the regolith base that releases the regolith plug above it. This disturbance's timescale and affected area are consistent with observed TLPs; we also discuss other effects. For slow flow, escape through the regolith is prolonged by low diffusivity. Water, found recently in deep magma samples, is unique among candidate volatiles, capable of freezing between the regolith base and surface, especially near the lunar poles. For major outgassing sites, we consider the possible accumulation of water ice. Over geological time, ice accumulation can evolve downward through the regolith. Depending on gases additional to water, regolith diffusivity might be suppressed chemically, blocking seepage and forcing the ice zone to expand to larger areas, up to km 2 scales, again, particularly at high latitudes. We propose an empirical path forward, wherein current and forthcoming technologies provide controlled, sensitive probes of outgassing. The optical transient/outgassing connection, addressed via Earth-based remote sensing, suggests imaging and/or spectroscopy, but aspects of lunar outgassing might be more covert, as indicated above. TLPs betray some outgassing, but does outgassing necessarily produce TLPs? We also suggest more intrusive techniques from radar to in situ probes. Understanding lunar volatiles seems promising in terms of resource exploitation for human exploration of the Moon and beyond, and offers interesting scientific goals in its own right. Many of these approaches should be practiced in a pristine lunar atmosphere, before significant confusing signals likely to be produced upon humans returning to the Moon.

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Langrenus: Transient Illuminations on the Moon

Cited by 10 publications

References 26 publications

Lunar Surface Imaging Polarimetry. III. Langrenus

Lunar Surface Imaging Polarimetry. III. Langrenus

Lunar Transient Phenomena: What Do the Clementine Images Reveal?

Lunar Outgassing, Transient Phenomena, and the Return to the Moon. Ii. Predictions and Tests for Outgassing/Regolith Interactions

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