Microwave Brightness Temperature of the Moon: The Possibility of Setting a Calibration Source of the Lunar Surface

摘要

To improve the retrieval accuracy of the lunar properties from microwave brightness temperature (TB) data sets of the lunar surface, TB measurements of the global moon need a calibration source to better estimate. In this letter, the standard for the calibration source is defined, and two possible calibration sources (the lunar center and Apollo 15) are proposed, which are based on a theoretical TB model. There is a difference of about 4 (3/37 GHz) and 11 K (7.8/19.35 GHz) between the simulated calibration source and Chang'E observation at the lunar center, and of about 7 K (3/7.8/19.35/37 GHz) at Apollo 15. The simulated calibration source (7.8/37 GHz) of the lunar center is within the range of the ground-based measurement. Note that the lunar center has been measured frequently by both ground-based and in-orbiter instruments, and the calibration source of the lunar center is the most possible and credible for the lunar surface. The uncertainty of the calibration source has been also analyzed.