Lunar eclipse observations reveal anomalous thermal performance of Apollo reflectors

被引：23

作者：

Murphy, T. W., Jr. ^{[1
]}

McMillan, R. J. ^{[2
]}

Johnson, N. H. ^{[1
]}

Goodrow, S. D. ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] Univ Calif San Diego, Dept Phys, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA

[2] Apache Point Observ, Sunspot, NM 88349 USA

来源：

ICARUS | 2014年 / 231卷

基金：

美国国家科学基金会;

关键词：

Moon; surface; Instrumentation; Experimental techniques; DUST;

D O I：

10.1016/j.icarus.2013.12.006

中图分类号：

P1 [天文学];

学科分类号：

0704 ;

摘要：

Laser ranging measurements during the total lunar eclipse on 2010 December 21 verify previously suspected thermal lensing in the retroreflectors left on the lunar surface by the Apollo astronauts. Signal levels during the eclipse far exceeded those historically seen at full moon, and varied over an order of magnitude as the eclipse progressed. These variations can be understood via a straightforward thermal scenario involving solar absorption by a similar to 50% covering of dust that has accumulated on the front surfaces of the reflectors. The same mechanism can explain the long-term degradation of signal from the reflectors as well as the acute signal deficit observed near full moon. (c) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

引用

页码：183 / 192

页数：10

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