Distribution of the Spectropolarimetric Parameter of the Moon in the Northern Part of Ocean Procellarum for a Large Phase Angle

摘要

Polarimetric observations of the moon have been carried out at λ_(eff) = 0.48 and 0.63 μm using the 50 cm telescope of the Maidanak (Middle Asia) observatory. Imaging has been performed using a Canon-350D camera with a CMOS array and rotating polaroid. The investigation covered the north-western part of the lunar disk comprising the northern part of Ocean Procellarum and obtained the images representing the albedo, polarization degree, color index, and polarimetric color ratio at a phase angle of 96°. It is the first time that the latter parameter has been imaged with a resolution of approximately 1 km. Its pattern has proved to resemble that of the color index, although some impor-tant differences can be seen. This shows that spectropolarimetric observations of the moon can give new information on the composition and optical properties of the lunar regolith.