Discoveries on the lithology of lunar crater central peaks by SELENE Spectral Profiler

Abstract

The Spectral Profiler (SP) onboard the Japanese SELENE (KAGUYA) spacecraft is now providing global high spectral resolution visible‐near infrared continuous reflectance spectra of the Moon. The reflectance spectra of impact craters on the farside of the Moon reveal lithologies that were not previously identified. The achievements of SP so far include: the most definite detection of crystalline iron‐bearing plagioclase with its characteristic 1.3 μ m absorption band on the Moon; a new interpretation of the lithology of Tsiolkovsky crater central peaks, previously classified as “olivine‐rich,” as mixtures of plagioclase and pyroxene; and the lower limit of Mg number of low‐Ca pyroxene found at Antoniadi crater central peak and peak ring which were estimated through direct comparison with laboratory spectra of natural and synthetic pyroxene samples.