The Clementine bistatic radar experiment
January 1, 1996
During the Clementine 1 mission, a bistatic radar experiment measured the magnitude and polarization of the radar echo versus bistatic angle, β, for selected lunar areas. Observations of the lunar south pole yield a same-sense polarization enhancement around β = 0. Analysis shows that the observed enhancement is localized to the permanently shadowed regions of the lunar south pole. Radar observations of periodically solar-illuminated lunar surfaces, including the north pole, yielded no such enhancement. A probable explanation for these differences is the presence of low-loss volume scatterers, such as water ice, in the permanently shadowed region at the south pole.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 1996 |
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Title | The Clementine bistatic radar experiment |
DOI | 10.1126/science.274.5292.1495 |
Authors | Stewart Nozette, C. L. Lichtenberg, P. Spudis, R. Bonner, W. Ort, E. Malaret, M. Robinson, E.M. Shoemaker |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Science |
Index ID | 70018213 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |