Classification of lunar rocks and glasses by a new statistical technique

A new multivariate statistical technique have been developed for detection of populations groupings in data arrays. General characteristics of the method are described. Results obtained analyzing lunar rocks and glasses are discussed. Lunar rocks lie in a genetically related sequence: pyroxenitic mantle materials produce mare type basalts; anorthositic rocks are the most distant members of the differentiation; noritic, hi-Ti and high KREEP basalts materials appear to be intermediate products. Lunar glasses parallel the overall behaviour of rocks, with some peculiar local characteristics. Granitic materials are present only as glasses, suggesting an origin as residuals. Links between several identified classes are discussed in terms of the evolution of the lunar crust.     

Some simple limits on size and rotation speed of astrophysical objects emitting by accretion

We demonstrate that the so-called force balance point, due to either magnetic fields (then known more specifically as the Alfvén point) or to co-rotation (Roche point), together with the concepts of flux and mass conservation, allows one to place interesting limits on both the size and angular velocity of astrophysical objects emitting by mass accretion. We give three numerical examples, which would seem to be of some astrophysical interest.     

Search for neutral hydrogen with high negative velocities ejected from the galactic center

A search for neutral hydrogen in the velocity range –300>V>–1000 km s^–1 has been made in the zone around the galactic nucleus. Observations of 100 points reveal no neutral hydrogen at such high velocities, with brightness temperatures exceeding 0.25 K in the latitude range |b|<1°, and 0.20 K for |b|1°.     

A search for soft X-ray emission from stellar sources

With the soft X-ray detector (0.2–0.284 keV) aboard the Astronomical Netherlands Satellite (ANS) we have searched for X-ray emission from hot star coronae and peculiar stars. On Sirius ( CMa) and Capella ( Aur) X-ray emission has been measured at 6 and 5 level, respectively, above background. In all other cases the search revealed no evidence for soft X-ray emission. Upper limits to the luminosities of about 25 star coronae (main-sequence stars, (sub)giants, and supergiants) and of 4 peculiar stars ( Sco, Lyr, P Cyg, and Car) have been obtained.Paper presented at the COSPAR/IAU Symposium on Fast Transients in X-and Gamma-Rays, held at Varna, Bulgaria, 29–31 May, 1975.     

The T Tauri star RU Lupi and its circumstellar surrounding

From simultaneous spectroscopic and photometric observations of the T Tauri star RU Lup, which was followed for nine consecutive nights, it was found that most if not all of the light variations observed on this star were caused by variable circumstellar extinction. The character and the time-scale of the variations imply that the variations are due to dust concentrations of stellar dimension crossing the line of sight to the star. The implications of this interpretation and its possible bearing on problems of protoplanetary systems are discussed.     

On the possibility of creating a radio-astronomical inertial coordinate system based on the measurement of arcs between QSOs with the aid of VLBI

The aim of this paper has been to discuss a possibility of the formation of an inertial system of coordinates, precise within 0″.001, with the aid of the measures of mutual angular distances of quasars by the VLBI technique used in radio-astronomy. Such a system depends on neither the rotation, nor revolution of the Earth around the Sun — a fact which permits a separation of the astronomical and geophysical aspects of the problem. The proposed system should permit us to resolve some general astrometric problems — such as of the precession and nutation of the Earth as well as of the motion of the terrestrial axis of rotation within the Earth, or fluctuations in the angular veoocity of terrestrial rotation.     

The spectral reflectivity of select areas on Europa

The July 12, 1973, occultation of Europa by Io was observed in 30 wavelength channels in the spectral region λλ3200-11, 000 Å with the 200-inch Hale telescope and a multichannel spectrometer. The data are presented in absolute units above the Earth's atmosphere. The data are analyzed to obtain the spectral reflectivity of seven localized areas on the disk of Europa centered on 324°W longitude. The equatorial material is confirmed to be darker than the eastward-skewed bright north polar cap and a hint is evident that the darker material as well may be somewhat redder than the cap material.     

The atmosphere of Io from Pioneer 10 radio occultation measurements

The occultation of the Pioneer 10 spacecraft by Io (JI) provided an opportunity to obtain two S-band radio occultation measurements of its atmosphere. The dayside entry measurements revealed an ionosphere having a peak density of about 6 × 10⁴ elcm^?3 at an altitude of about 100 km. The topside scale height indicates a plasma temperature of about 406 K if it is composed of Na⁺ and 495 K if N₂⁺ is principal ion. A thinner and less dense ionosphere was observed on the exit (night side), having a peak density of 9 × 10³ elcm^?3 at an altitude of 50 km. The topside plasma temperature is 160 K for N₂^? and 131 K for Na⁺. If the ionosphere is produced by photoionization in a manner analogous to the ionospheres of the terrestrial planets, the density of neutral particles at the surface of Io is less than 10¹¹?10¹² cm³, corresponding to a surface pressure of less than 10^?8 to 10^?9 bars. Two measurements of its radius were also obtained yielding a value of 1830 km for the entry and 192 km for the exit. The discrepancy between these values may indicate an ephemeris uncertainty of about 45 km. The two measurements yield an average radius of 1875 km, which is not in agreement with the results of the Beta Scorpii stellar occultation.     

On the structure of filaments from centimeter and millimeter observations

From filament observations at centimeter and millimeter wavelengths it is shown that the transition layer between the dense, cool filamentary material and the ambient hot, rarified corona is rather thin, of the order of some hundred kilometers. Hence, the difference in the sizes of filaments in the radio and optical domains is of the order of 1000 km or 2, thus not detectable by the instruments so far used for observations of filaments.NASINRC Resident Research Associate at NASA-GSFC.