Development of an improved method of measuring spectral emissivity of analog solar system regoliths and dust

In this work we report on a research program, carried out in our laboratory, aimed at a systematic study of the possible analogs to the Martian materials. Since the characteristic spectral features of many materials of interest are in the mid-infrared region of the spectrum, which is usually dominated by the thermal emission of the planet, laboratory measurements of spectral emissivity are required. We describe in full detail the experimental procedure we used to obtain the spectral emissivity of a test material (quartz powder). In particular the discussion is centered on a new method, which allows us to determine the effective temperature of the emitting surface, needed for a reliable and independent determination of the absolute spectral emissivity. The same method will be also applicable to the study of other regoliths of the solar system, such as lunar, mercurian and asteroidal.