The Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment (DLRE) will provide a complete set of precise radiometric lunar surface temperature measurements over the full 40–400 K anticipated range. Over the course of the LRO mission, Diviner will acquire a dataset of fundamental importance to future human exploration. Data obtained by Diviner may be used to assess day and night surface and subsurface thermal conditions, or to determine rock abundances at future landing sites. Diviner will also identify and characterize permanently shadowed cold-traps that may contain near-surface water ice resources[8].
The nine-channel Diviner visible and infrared radiometer employs a precise multichannel filter radiometry to measure lunar surface temperatures.Table 1 shows the spectral response of the nine Diviner channels. Figure 1 shows the results of model calculations of diurnal temperature variations on the moon. Diviner will have a sufficiently low minimum detectable temperature to map lunar surface temperatures over the full anticipated range. With these measurements, Diviner will be capable of:
• Mapping global day/night surface temperatures and characterizing lunar environments for habitability.
• Determining fine-component thermal inertias and rock abundances by mapping nighttime surface temperatures in multiple spectral channels.
• Identifying polar cold traps in permanently shadowed regions and potential water ice resources.
Table 5 DLRE’s nine spectral channels
Fig. 1 Model calculated diurnal lunar surface temperature variations over a complete diurnal cycle