嫦娥三号探测区域地质特征.docVIP

  Geologic characteristics of the Chang’E-3 exploration region# 5 10 15 20 25 30 ZHAO Jiannan, HUANG Jun, QIAO Le, XIAO ZhiYong, HUANG Qian, WANG Jiang, HE Qi, XIAO Long** (Planetary Science Institute, China University of Geosciences,430074) Abstract: We present topographic, geomorphologic and compositional characteristics of a 1°×1°(~660 km2) region centered near the landing site of Chang’E-3 using the highest spatial resolution data available. We analyze the topography and slope using Digital Terrain Model (DTM) generated from Terrain Camera (TC) images. The exploration region is overall relatively flat and the elevation difference is less than 300 m, and the slopes of 80% area are less than 5°. Impact craters in the exploration region are classified into four types based on their degradation states. We investigate the wrinkle ridges visible in the exploration region in detail using TC and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) images. We calculate FeO and TiO2 abundances using Multispectral Imager (MI) data, and confirm two basaltic units: the northern part belongs to Imbrian low-Ti/very-low-Ti mare basalts, and the southern part is Eratosthenian low-Ti/high-Ti mare basalts. Finally, we produce a geological map and propose the geologic evolution of the exploration region. We also suggest several rover traverses to explore interesting targets and maximize the potential scientific output. Key words: Planetary Geology; Cheng’E-3; Yutu rover; geological map; Mare Imbrium; the Moon 0 Introduction Nearly 40 years after the completion of the Apollo and Luna missions, the third Chinese lunar mission, Chang’E-3 (CE-3), was launched on December 2, 2013 and safely landed on the surface of the Moon on December 14, 2013. The rover “Yutu” separated from the lander successfully about 8 hours later. The landing site of CE-3 is 340.49 °E, 44.12 °N, which is located in the northern part of Mare Imbrium (Fig. 1). As the first Chinese lunar soft-lander and