FDL IN THE NEWS
Contrast-adjusted image of a permanently shadowed region (PSR) on the Moon before/after applying our AI denoising algorithm, called HORUS. For the first time, HORUS is able to see features inside the PSR such as craters and boulder down to 3-5 meters in size. Raw image credits to LROC/GSFC/ASU. Kocher crater (lunar sound pole).
Nature communications
Peering into lunar permanently shadowed regions with deep learning
Abstract
The lunar permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) are expected to host large quantities of water-ice, which are key for sustainable exploration of the Moon and beyond. In the near future, NASA and other entities plan to send rovers and humans to characterize water-ice within PSRs. However, there exists only limited information about the small-scale geomorphology and distribution of ice within PSRs because the orbital imagery captured to date lacks sufficient resolution and/or signal. In this paper, we develop and validate a new method of post-processing LRO NAC images of PSRs. We show that our method is able to reveal previously unseen geomorphological features such as boulders and craters down to 3 meters in size, whilst not finding evidence for surface frost or near-surface ice. Our post-processed images significantly facilitate the exploration of PSRs by reducing the uncertainty of target selection and traverse/mission planning… Read more
Published: 23 September 2021
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