In
this false colour view - taken from an altitude of 50 km - redder hues represent
rock and regolith that have been altered chemically by exposure to the solar
wind and small impacts. Bluer hues represent fresher, less-altered rock
and regolith, such as the bright patches that have been less affected by
'space weathering.' |
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In that process, during micrometeorite impacts, rock reacts with miniscule
amounts of trapped solar wind and is chemically changed. Interestingly,
most of the large boulders have been just as affected as the regolith. This
suggests either that the rocks are relatively old, or that they are 'dirty'
from an adhering film of regolith particles. |
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