Some Astronomical Aspects of the Study of Lunar Regolith

Abstract

This article provides some astronomical background for a systematic study of the lunar regolith. The Moon, like other atmosphere-less bodies, is the subject to all kinds of cosmic radiation, which are imprinted in the lunar surface. Therefore, the study of the lunar regolith for signs of cosmic radiation can assist to trace the history of changes in these emissions over time. Mostly changes in the solar wind and galactic cosmic rays are very interesting at time intervals from a few tens of millions of years to several billion years. The paper develops the idea of paleoregolith, the possible location of which can be seen on the slopes of some craters (Euler, Bessel) in images obtained by camera of LRO spacecraft (LROC). Because of the complexities of placing a spacecraft on the slopes of craters, some other possible locations of paleoregolith are offered to consideration. To study the recent history of the evolution of the Moon and the inner planets (up to 200 million years) the stored information in impact and volcanic melts, which are widely represented in the LROC images, should be considered.