High‐Resolution Potassium Observations of the Lunar Exosphere

Abstract

AbstractWe observed lunar exospheric potassium D1 (7,698.9646 Å) emissions using a high‐spectral resolution Fabry‐Perot spectrometer in 2014. We present the first potassium line profile measurements, which are representative of the potassium velocity distribution. Inferred temperatures are greater during the waxing gibbous phase, 1920±630 K and lower at waning gibbous phase, 980±200 K. Exosphere models suggest that the measured line widths are a combination of photon‐stimulated desorption and impact vaporization sources. The relative potassium emission intensity decreases by ∼2.5 between lunar phases 80° and 30° and is brightest off the northwest limb near the Aristarchus crater, which is a potassium‐rich surface region. Additionally, the emissions off the northern limb are brighter than the southern limb. The intensity decrease and the greater line width during the waxing gibbous versus the waning gibbous phase suggests a dawn‐dusk asymmetry.