Other
Scientific paper
Sep 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....41.3501s&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #35.01
Other
Scientific paper
During each elongation since May 2007, wide field coronagraphic images of Mercury were taken at the McDonald Observatory. This data set shows large variations in a tail of neutral sodium atoms escaping the planet. At certain orbital phases of Mercury, this tail stretches more than 1000 planetary radii in length, while in other phases the tail disappears beyond our limit of detectability. These changes are attributed to large modulations in radiation pressure with orbital longitude, which affect the escape, acceleration and brightness of sodium at Mercury. Sources of Mercury's sodium exosphere include solar wind channeled along Mercury's magnetic field lines, sputtering from UV sunlight, meteorite impacts and thermal evaporation. Each image contains a history of Mercury's atmospheric escape over several hours, documenting possible short term changes in ion and meteor sputtered sources within the observed day-to-day and month-to-month variations. These observations can help in understanding the variability and relative strengths of these processes in Mercury's atmosphere.
Baumgardner Jeff
Mendillo Michael
Schmidt Carl
Wilson Jeanine
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