The First Ground-based White Light Lunar Polarization Imaging: A New Kind of FeO Observation on the Near Side of the Moon

Abstract

Lunar optical polarization is a fascinating phenomenon that occurs when sunlight reflects off the surface of the Moon and becomes polarized. This study employs a novel split-focus plane polarimetric camera to conduct the initial white light polarimetric observations on the near side of the Moon. We obtained the linear degree of polarization (DOP) parameters of white light by observation from the eastern and western hemispheres of the Moon. The findings indicate that the white light polarization is lower in the lunar highland than in the lunar maria overall. Combining the analysis of lunar soil samples, we noticed and determined that the DOP parameters of white light demonstrate high consistency with iron oxide on the Moon. This study may serve as a new diagnostic tool for the Moon.