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Lunar atmospheric helium detections by the LAMP UV spectrograph on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

  1. S. A. Stern1,*,
  2. K. D. Retherford2,
  3. C. C. C. Tsang1,
  4. P. D. Feldman3,
  5. W. Pryor4,
  6. G. R. Gladstone2

Article first published online: 27 JUN 2012

DOI: 10.1029/2012GL051797

Issue

Geophysical Research Letters

Geophysical Research Letters

Additional Information

How to Cite

Stern, S. A., K. D. Retherford, C. C. C. Tsang, P. D. Feldman, W. Pryor, and G. R. Gladstone (2012), Lunar atmospheric helium detections by the LAMP UV spectrograph on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L12202, doi:10.1029/2012GL051797.

Author Information

  1. 1

    Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, Colorado, USA

  2. 2

    Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA

  3. 3

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

  4. 4

    Department of Astronomy and Department of Geology, Central Arizona College, Coolidge, Arizona, USA

*Corresponding author: S. A. Stern, Southwest Research Institute, 1050 Walnut Street, Boulder, CO 80302, USA. (astern@swri.edu)

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 27 JUN 2012
  2. Article first published online: 27 JUN 2012
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 28 MAY 2012
  4. Manuscript Revised: 25 MAY 2012
  5. Manuscript Received: 23 MAR 2012

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Keywords:

  • Moon;
  • atmosphere

[1] The LAMP far ultraviolet spectrograph aboard the NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has been used in 2011 to search for helium, the lightest noble gas in the tenuous lunar atmosphere. Based on that search, we report here the first detection of lunar atmospheric He by remote sensing, and point to future observations that can address questions about its source; we also discuss a search for lunar atmospheric argon.

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