Nuclear Planetology: Especially Concerning the Moon and Mars

摘要: To approach basic scientific questions on the origin and evolution of planetary bodies such as planets, their satellites asteroids, one needs data chemical composition. The measurements gamma-rays, X-rays neutrons emitted from surface materials provide information abundances major elements naturally radioactive gamma-ray emitters. Neutron spectroscopy can sensitive maps hydrogen- carbon-containing compounds, even if buried, uniquely identify layers carbon-dioxide frost. Nuclear spectroscopy, a means compositional analysis, has been applied via orbital lander spacecraft to extraterrestrial bodies: Moon, Venus, Mars, Mercury asteroids. knowledge abundances, especially concerning Moon greatly increased in recent years. This paper describes principle nuclear instruments carried missions so far, nature observational results findings recently obtained by spectroscopy.