Publication
- Names
-
- E. Caminiti
- P. Beck
- A. Wargnier
- L. Bonal
- B. Schmitt
- T. Usui
- Title
- Low-reflectance spectra of meteorites: implications for space missions
- Abstract
- The spectroscopic properties of airless bodies are influenced by the space environment, including extreme temperatures. In this work, we study how low temperatures affect the spectral properties of meteorites in the visible to near-infrared. We selected a HED meteorite (diogenite), an ordinary chondrite (LL), as well as seven carbonaceous chondrites of four different types (CI, CM, CV, and CO). Low-temperature reflectance spectroscopy measurements were acquired from 280 K down to 70 K over the 0.4-4 μm spectral range. Cryogenic temperatures induce significant modifications in the position, amplitude, and width of absorption bands around 0.7, 1, 2, and 3 μm; as well as modifications of the position of interband peaks and average slope. Spectral changes can influence the interpretation of the composition and the degree of hydration of meteorites and planetary objects. The intensity and trend of spectral modifications vary depending on the type of meteorites. Even if CVs and COs chondrites show comparable spectral properties, they exhibit different spectral changes under temperature variations which could possibly be used to distinguish their parent bodies. The effects of cryogenic temperatures on spectral properties must be considered in the interpretation of remote sensing data and comparisons between laboratory measurements and remote sensing observations. In the golden age of small body exploration, numerous space missions are affected, including but not limited to the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX, JAXA), Hera (ESA), Lucy (NASA), Tianwen-2 (CNSA), and Emirates Mission to the Asteroid belt (EMA, UAE).
- Keywords
- meteorites, reflectance
- Content
- spectral data
- Document type
- article
- Publication state
- in press