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The 3‐D geological model around Chang'E‐3 landing site based on lunar penetrating radar Channel 1 data
Author(s) -
Yuan Yuefeng,
Zhu Peimin,
Zhao Na,
Xiao Long,
Garnero Edward,
Xiao Zhiyong,
Zhao Jiannan,
Qiao Le
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2017gl073589
Subject(s) - geology , lunar mare , regolith , lava , radar , ground penetrating radar , moon landing , lunar soil , geology of the moon , remote sensing , geophysics , astrobiology , seismology , apollo , mineralogy , volcano , basalt , aerospace engineering , zoology , physics , engineering , biology
High‐frequency lunar penetrating radar (LPR) data from an instrument on the lunar rover Yutu, from the Chang'E‐3 (CE‐3) robotic lander, were used to build a three‐dimensional (3‐D) geological model of the lunar subsurface structure. The CE‐3 landing site is in the northern Mare Imbrium. More than five significant reflection horizons are evident in the LPR profile, which we interpret as different period lava flow sequences deposited on the lunar surface. The most probable directions of these flows were inferred from layer depths, thicknesses, and other geological information. Moreover, the apparent Imbrian paleoregolith homogeneity in the profile supports the suggestion of a quiescent period of lunar surface evolution. Similar subsurface structures are found at the NASA Apollo landing sites, indicating that the cause and time of formation of the imaged phenomena may be similar between the two distant regions.