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A. Coradini (IFSI-INAF), F. Capaccioni (IASF-INAF), P. Drossart (LESIA- Meudon), A. Adriani (IFSI-INAF), M.T. Capria, M.C. De Sanctis, G. Filacchione, G. Piccioni (IASF-INAF), Rosetta-VIRTIS Science Team
The ESA Rosetta mission, on its way to comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, took infrared and visible images of Earth and the Moon, during the Earth fly-by on 4 and 5 March 2005. VIRTIS is the Rosetta Imaging Spectrometer that can collect 864 monochromatic images in its full spectral range extending from the UV (250nm) up to the thermal infrared (5000nm). On 4 and 5 March, before closest approach to Earth and from a distance of 400 000 kilometres from our Moon, VIRTIS imaged the Moon in high spatial (100 kilometres per pixel) and spectral resolution in visible and infrared light. The phase angle during the observations was very high (ranging from 110 up to 130 degrees). After closest approach to Earth and from a distance of 250 000 kilometres from our planet, VIRTIS took two high spatial (62 kilometres per pixel) and spectral resolution images of the Earth in visible and infrared light. The phase angle during the observations was around 91 degrees. Not only the Earth fly-by represented the first real chance to calibrate and validate the performance of VIRTIS instrument, but it permitted to obtain data of the Moon and Earth which have a high scientific content. The Moon data exhibit variegation in the overall spectra, from which maria and highlands are clearly identified. The illuminated part of the Moon is the region of Oceanus Procellarum, Copernicus Crater, Mare Imbrium and Mare Humorum. We obtained several spectral images of the Moon at different spatial resolution. In the IR spectra of the Moon the reflected and the emitted (thermal) radiation are visible. The analysis of the Earth data shows several atmospheric features, including absorption bands of water and emission lines of CO2. The most important results will be described.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #3
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.