Australian Institute of Physics

South Australian Branch

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Free Public Lecture

Icy Poles on the Moon

Nick Stacy
Defence Science and Technology Organization

Tuesday October 6th 1998 at 7.30pm in the
Flentje Lecture Theatre, Plaza Building, University of Adelaide

Abstract:
The possibility of ice deposits on the Moon in polar areas permanently shadowed from the Sun was proposed almost forty years ago. The search began in the early 1990s with two Earth based radar observations which provided inconclusive results. The positive detection of ice by the neutron spectrometer experiment on the Lunar Prospector spacecraft was announced in March. A water ice deposit at the lunar poles provides, in a relatively convenient location, an essential resource for the colonization of the Moon and further exploration of the Solar System.

Here are the WWW links advertised in last night's presentation:

• Lunar Prospector Home Page
• Lunar Prospector Links to Ice on the Moon Articles
• Lunar Prospector Science Report
• Arecibo Observatory

Biography:
Nick Stacy was born in Adelaide. He received a BE from the University of Adelaide in 1984, a MS from Stanford University in 1985 and a PhD from Cornell University in 1993, all in Electrical Engineering. He worked at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico from 1985 to 1986 and at British Aerospace Australia at Technology Park from 1987 to 1989. His work has included the acquisition and analysis of Arecibo Observatory radar observations of the Moon and the analysis of Arecibo and Magellan radar data of Venus. He joined the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) in 1993 where he has worked in the field of imaging radar processing and analysis primarily using the DSTO developed Ingara airborne radar system.

Members are invited to have dinner prior to the lecture from 6pm onwards in the Equinox restaurant in the Union building at the University of Adelaide. Bookings, which are helpful but not essential, should be made by noon on Tues. 6th October with the AIP-SA Secretary or with Ms. Tanya Weir on (08) 8303 5996.