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Science 5 August 1988:
Vol. 241. no. 4866, pp. 675 - 680
DOI: 10.1126/science.241.4866.675
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Articles

Discovery of Sodium and Potassium Vapor in the Atmosphere of the Moon

A. E. Potter 1 and T. H. Morgan 2

1 Space Science Branch, Solar System Division, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058
2 National Research Council Senior Associate assigned to Space Science Branch, Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058

Spectra of the region just above the bright limb of the Moon show weak emission features that are attributed to resonant scattering of sunlight from sodium and potassium vapor in the lunar atmosphere. The maximum omnidirectional emission flux above the bright limb is 3.8 ± 0.4 kilorayleighs for sodium and 1.8 ± 0.4 kiloray-leighs for potassium. The zenith column densities above the subsolar point are estimated to be 8 ± 3 x 108 atoms cm-2 for sodium 1.4 ± 0.3 x 108 atoms cm-2 for potassium. Corresponding surface densities are 67 ± 12 atoms cm-3 and 15 ± 3 atoms cm-3, respectively. The scale height for the sodium atmosphere is 120 ± 42 kilometers, and for potassium 90 ± 20 kilometers, which implies that the effective temperature of the sodium and potassium is close to the lunar surface temperature. The sodium density at the south polar region was found to be similar to that at the subsolar point, indicating wide-spread distribution of sodium vapor over the lunar surface. The ratio of the density of sodium to the density of potassium is (6 ± 3) to 1, which is close to the sodium to potassium ratio in the lunar surface, suggesting that the atmosphere originates from the vaporization of surface minerals.

Submitted on May 2, 1988
Accepted on July 8, 1988


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Understanding the Lunar Surface and Space-Moon Interactions.
P. Lucey, R. L. Korotev, J. J. Gillis, L. A. Taylor, D. Lawrence, B. A. Campbell, R. Elphic, B. Feldman, L. L. Hood, D. Hunten, et al. (2006)
Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 60, 83-219
   Full Text »    PDF »
Discovery of Vapor Deposits in the Lunar Regolith.
L. P. Keller, L. P. Keller, and D. S. McKay (1993)
Science 261, 1305-1307
   Abstract »    PDF »
A Picture of the Moon's Atmosphere.
B. Flynn, B. Flynn, and M. Mendillo (1993)
Science 261, 184-186
   Abstract »    PDF »
Astrophysics from the Moon.
B. F. Burke and B. F. Burke (1990)
Science 250, 1365-1370
   Abstract »    PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)