Re-evaluation of Lunar X-ray observations by Apollo 15 & 16
- 1European Space Agency, ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands
- 2Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
The Apollo 15 & 16 missions were the first to explore the Lunar surface chemistry by investigating about 10 percent of the Lunar surface using a remote sensing X-ray fluorescence spectrometer experiment. The data obtained has been extensively used to study Lunar formation history and geological evolution. In this work a re-evaluation of the Apollo 15 & 16 X-ray fluorescence experiment is conducted with the aim to obtain up-to-date empirical values for aluminum (Al) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations relative to silicon (Si) of the upper Lunar surface. An up-to-date orbit reconstruction, updated instrument response, and improved intensity ratio calculations are used to obtain new intensity ratio maps.
How to cite: Kuulkers, E. and Gloudemans, A.: Re-evaluation of Lunar X-ray observations by Apollo 15 & 16, Europlanet Science Congress 2020, online, 21 September–9 Oct 2020, EPSC2020-210, https://doi.org/10.5194/epsc2020-210, 2020