Calculations of Lunar Temperatures

THE observations of the surface temperature of the Moon by Pettit and Nicholson 1 have led to attempts to deduce details of the lunar surface conditions. Observations of microwave radiation by Piddington and Minnett 2 were also used by Jaeger 3 , but he concludes that there is an inherent discrepancy between the average temperatures determined by the two methods. The experimental results are given in Fig. 1. Jaeger, like the others quoted in his bibliography, makes the assumption in his calculations that the thermal properties of the materials remain constant.