METHIS: Mercury thermal infrared spectrometer

You are here: Homepage > Search

METHIS: Mercury thermal infrared spectrometer

Coradini, A. / De Sanctis, M.C. / Capaccioni, F. / Piccioni, G. / Romoli, A. / Suetta, E. / Giunti, C. / Barilli, M.

AbstractThe BepiColombo mission to Mercury is devoted to the thorough exploration of Mercury and its environment, with the aim to understand the processes of planetary formation and evolution in the hottest part of the protoplanetary nebula. This mission represents an unique opportunity for the European community to extend the understanding of the Solar Nebula evolution from its outer edge – ideally represented by comets – to its inner and warmer edge. Obviously this exploration asks for a detailed knowledge of the main constituents of the matter present in the different Solar System areas. Spectroscopy is a powerful tool to acquire this knowledge. We have participated with a large consortium of European researchers to the development of the Rosetta imaging spectrometer. We propose here to use our experience to develop a newly designed spectrometer to investigate the mineralogical composition of the Mercurial surface. Given the particular thermodynamical situation of the Mercurial surface, we have developed a concept that combines a medium IR low spectral resolution imager with a moderate spectral resolution NIR point spectrometer. The main goal of METHIS is to provide the mineralogical characterisation of the surface with sufficient spectral resolution in a scientifically diagnostic spectral range.

Access

Check access

Check availability in my library

Order at Subito €

Export, share and cite

Document information

Title :

METHIS: Mercury thermal infrared spectrometer

Contributors:

Coradini, A. (author) / De Sanctis, M.C. (author) / Capaccioni, F. (author) / Piccioni, G. (author) / Romoli, A. (author) / Suetta, E. (author) / Giunti, C. (author) / Barilli, M. (author)

Published in:

Advances in Space Research ; 33 , 12 ; 2189-2194

Publication date :

2003-04-15

Size :

6 pages

ISSN :

0273-1177

DOI :

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0273-1177(03)00445-9

Type of media :

Article (Journal)