Topography of the Lunar Poles from Radar Interferometry: A Survey of Cold Trap Locations
J. L. Margot,
1*
D. B. Campbell,
1
R.
F. Jurgens,
2
M. A. Slade
2
Detailed topographic maps of the lunar poles have been obtained by
Earth-based radar interferometry with the 3.5-centimeter wavelength
Goldstone Solar System Radar. The interferometer provided maps 300 kilometers by 1000 kilometers of both polar regions at 150-meter
spatial resolution and 50-meter height resolution. Using ray tracing,
these digital elevation models were used to locate regions that are in
permanent shadow from solar illumination and may harbor ice deposits.
Estimates of the total extent of shadowed areas poleward of 87.5 degrees latitude are 1030 and 2550 square kilometers for the north and
south poles, respectively.
1 Department of Astronomy, Space Sciences
Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
2 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, MS
238-420, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA.
*
Present address: Arecibo Observatory, HC3 Box 53995, Arecibo,
PR 00612, Puerto Rico.
To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
margot{at}naic.edu (J.L.M.);
campbell{at}astrosun.tn.cornell.edu (D.B.C.)
