资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

We know very well the Moon's appearance in the visible wavelengths. What the Moon in the mid‐infrared (MIR) looks like is still a mystery. We present detailed appearance of the MIR Moon observed by a high‐resolution geostationary satellite and reveal the essence behind its appearance. The appearance of the MIR Moon is opposite to its normal visible appearance and shows limb darkening. Both the absolute and the relative brightness distribution of the MIR lunar disk changes with the solar incidence angle i. The signatures of the MIR Moon are controlled by both the reflection and emission of the lunar surface. The center‐to‐limb temperature variation across the lunar disk is clearly shown. The slower decrease of the brightness temperature when moving away from the sub‐solar point than the Lambertian model represents topographic effects.