Infrared observations of the moon and their interpretation

The lunar spectrum, resulting from both the directly scattered solar radiation and the Moon's intrinsic thermal radiation, is described. The variations of the thermal component with latitude and phase, and during eclipse conditions, are described and compared with a plane homogeneous model of temperature-independent thermal constants. A review is given of that data appropriate to the lunar crust which may be obtained, both from comparison of this model with observation and from those modifications of the model, which explain otherwise anomalous measurements. Finally, a discussion of the various methods of determining the vertical temperature gradient at the surface leads to a mean value of about 2Km^–1, although the heat flux associated with these results is much less than the recent direct measurement.