The Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP) instrument aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has detected signatures of surface water and frost in the Moon’s polar regions using far-ultraviolet spectroscopy.

Dataset Information

Property Value
Source LRO LAMP
Type Far-UV reflectance spectra
Coverage Lunar polar regions

Scientific Background

LAMP observes the lunar surface in far-ultraviolet wavelengths, where water frost produces distinctive absorption features. Combined with Diviner temperature measurements, these observations help constrain the distribution and abundance of water ice in permanently shadowed regions.

Status

Coming soon: This dataset is being prepared for public release.

Further information:

  • Hayne, P. O., Hendrix, A., Sefton-Nash, E., Siegler, M. A., Lucey, P. G., Retherford, K. D., Williams, J.-P., Greenhagen, B. T., & Paige, D. A. (2015). Evidence for exposed water ice in the Moon's south polar regions from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter ultraviolet albedo and temperature measurements. Icarus, 255, 58–69. Link