Spectroscopic observations of mercury's surface reflectance during MESSENGER's first mercury flyby

William E. McClintock; Noam R. Izenberg; Gregory M. Holsclaw; David T. Blewett; Deborah L. Domingue; James W. Head; Jörn Helbert; Timothy J. McCoy; Scott L. Murchie; Mark Robinson; Sean C. Solomon; Ann L. Sprague; Faith Vilas

doi:10.1126/science.1159933

Spectroscopic observations of mercury's surface reflectance during MESSENGER's first mercury flyby

William E. McClintock, Noam R. Izenberg, Gregory M. Holsclaw, David T. Blewett, Deborah L. Domingue, James W. Head, Jörn Helbert, Timothy J. McCoy, Scott L. Murchie, Mark Robinson, Sean C. Solomon, Ann L. Sprague, Faith Vilas

Earth and Space Exploration, School of (SESE)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

92 Scopus citations

Abstract

During MESSENGER's first flyby of Mercury, the Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer made simultaneous mid-ultraviolet to near-infrared (wavelengths of 200 to 1300 nanometers) reflectance observations of the surface. An ultraviolet absorption (<280 nanometers) suggests that the ferrous oxide (Fe²⁺) content of silicates in average surface material is low (less than 2 to 3 weight percent). This result is supported by the lack of a detectable 1-micrometer Fe²⁺ absorption band in high-spatial-resolution spectra of mature surface materials as well as immature crater ejecta, which suggests that the ferrous iron content may be low both on the surface and at depth. Differences in absorption features and slope among the spectra are evidence for variations in composition and regolith maturation of Mercury's surface.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	62-65
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	321
Issue number	5885
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1159933
State	Published - Jul 4 2008

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McClintock, W. E., Izenberg, N. R., Holsclaw, G. M., Blewett, D. T., Domingue, D. L., Head, J. W., Helbert, J., McCoy, T. J., Murchie, S. L., Robinson, M., Solomon, S. C., Sprague, A. L., & Vilas, F. (2008). Spectroscopic observations of mercury's surface reflectance during MESSENGER's first mercury flyby. Science, 321(5885), 62-65. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1159933

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title = "Spectroscopic observations of mercury's surface reflectance during MESSENGER's first mercury flyby",

abstract = "During MESSENGER's first flyby of Mercury, the Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer made simultaneous mid-ultraviolet to near-infrared (wavelengths of 200 to 1300 nanometers) reflectance observations of the surface. An ultraviolet absorption (<280 nanometers) suggests that the ferrous oxide (Fe2+) content of silicates in average surface material is low (less than 2 to 3 weight percent). This result is supported by the lack of a detectable 1-micrometer Fe2+ absorption band in high-spatial-resolution spectra of mature surface materials as well as immature crater ejecta, which suggests that the ferrous iron content may be low both on the surface and at depth. Differences in absorption features and slope among the spectra are evidence for variations in composition and regolith maturation of Mercury's surface.",

author = "McClintock, {William E.} and Izenberg, {Noam R.} and Holsclaw, {Gregory M.} and Blewett, {David T.} and Domingue, {Deborah L.} and Head, {James W.} and J{\"o}rn Helbert and McCoy, {Timothy J.} and Murchie, {Scott L.} and Mark Robinson and Solomon, {Sean C.} and Sprague, {Ann L.} and Faith Vilas",

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T1 - Spectroscopic observations of mercury's surface reflectance during MESSENGER's first mercury flyby

AU - McClintock, William E.

AU - Izenberg, Noam R.

AU - Holsclaw, Gregory M.

AU - Blewett, David T.

AU - Domingue, Deborah L.

AU - Head, James W.

AU - Helbert, Jörn

AU - McCoy, Timothy J.

AU - Murchie, Scott L.

AU - Robinson, Mark

AU - Solomon, Sean C.

AU - Sprague, Ann L.

AU - Vilas, Faith

PY - 2008/7/4

Y1 - 2008/7/4

N2 - During MESSENGER's first flyby of Mercury, the Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer made simultaneous mid-ultraviolet to near-infrared (wavelengths of 200 to 1300 nanometers) reflectance observations of the surface. An ultraviolet absorption (<280 nanometers) suggests that the ferrous oxide (Fe2+) content of silicates in average surface material is low (less than 2 to 3 weight percent). This result is supported by the lack of a detectable 1-micrometer Fe2+ absorption band in high-spatial-resolution spectra of mature surface materials as well as immature crater ejecta, which suggests that the ferrous iron content may be low both on the surface and at depth. Differences in absorption features and slope among the spectra are evidence for variations in composition and regolith maturation of Mercury's surface.

AB - During MESSENGER's first flyby of Mercury, the Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer made simultaneous mid-ultraviolet to near-infrared (wavelengths of 200 to 1300 nanometers) reflectance observations of the surface. An ultraviolet absorption (<280 nanometers) suggests that the ferrous oxide (Fe2+) content of silicates in average surface material is low (less than 2 to 3 weight percent). This result is supported by the lack of a detectable 1-micrometer Fe2+ absorption band in high-spatial-resolution spectra of mature surface materials as well as immature crater ejecta, which suggests that the ferrous iron content may be low both on the surface and at depth. Differences in absorption features and slope among the spectra are evidence for variations in composition and regolith maturation of Mercury's surface.

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SP - 62

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JO - Science

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Spectroscopic observations of mercury's surface reflectance during MESSENGER's first mercury flyby

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