Physics
Scientific paper
Jul 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006jgra..11107207w&link_type=abstract
Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 111, Issue A7, CiteID A07207
Physics
15
Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Moon (1221), Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Atmospheres (0343, 1060), Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Interactions With Particles And Fields, Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetotail, Magnetospheric Physics: Plasma Sheet
Scientific paper
Atoms in the thin lunar exosphere are liberated from the Moon's regolith by some combination of sunlight, plasma, and meteorite impact. We have observed exospheric sodium, a useful tracer species, on five nights of full Moon in order to test the effect of shielding the lunar surface from the solar wind plasma by the Earth's magnetosphere. These observations, conducted under the dark sky conditions of lunar eclipses, have turned out to be tests of the differential effects of energetic particle populations that strike the Moon's surface when it is in the magnetotail. We find that the brightness of the lunar sodium exosphere at full Moon is correlated with the Moon's passage through the Earth's magnetotail plasma sheet. This suggests that omnipresent exospheric sources (sunlight or micrometeors) are augmented by variable plasma impact sources in the solar wind and Earth's magnetotail.
Mendillo Michael
Spence Harlan E.
Wilson Jody K.
No associations
LandOfFree
Magnetospheric influence on the Moon's exosphere does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Magnetospheric influence on the Moon's exosphere, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Magnetospheric influence on the Moon's exosphere will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1794120