Near-infrared spectral dependence on temperature for mafic minerals, meteorites, and lunar soils: Implications for asteroid and lunar science

New measurements of the temperature dependent near-infrared spectra of mafic minerals are made with a new environment chamber apparatus. The new spectra have higher temperature and spectral resolution than earlier data. The radiation environment dominates the surface temperature of the powdered mineral samples in vacuo. Measurements of meteorites as asteroid proxies demonstrate the effect should be detectable with modern spaceborne and telescopic instrumentation within the temperature range expected across the asteroid belt and due to temperature differences produced by variation of solar insolation angle. Meteorite spectra show even larger change in the near-infrared between main-belt temperatures and terrestrial ambient. Near-infrared spectral measurements of lunar soils show insignificant sensitivity to temperature.