Earth-based Multispectral and Photometric Observations of the Moon.

Abstract

From 1989 to 1991, we performed an earth-based observation campaign of the Moon with the DLR CCD-camera at the observatories of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, and at Wendelstein, FRG with a spatial resolution of 1.2 km. Multispectral images were acquired in the DLR narrow banded 12 filter set, covering the whole lunar nearside. For selected areas, we obtained multispectral data with a spare Galileo SSI 7 filter set, and photometric data in the phase angle range of 2 degreesto 45 degrees. Our observation campaign focused on the analysis of the lunar regolith composition and the photometric behavior near the opposition surge. In addition, refined crater counts were performed to improve the geologic interpretation. The earth-based telescopic observations also help in the spactral calibration of the Galileo SSI EM1 image data.