Journal article
Variability of helium, neon, and argon in the lunar exosphere as observed by the LADEE NMS instrument
Geophysical research letters, Vol.42(10), pp.3723-3729
05/28/2015
DOI: 10.1002/2015GL064120
Abstract
The Neutral Mass Spectrometer (NMS) onboard the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) provided the first global characterization of He and Ar along with the discovery of Ne in the lunar exosphere. The mapping of the equatorial distribution of these noble gases revealed new selenographic and temporal variations. Helium was found to be controlled by the supply of solar wind alpha particles and by the presence of an endogenous source that supplies the exosphere at a rate of 1.9 × 1023 atoms s−1. Neon was detected over the nightside at levels comparable to He and was found to exhibit the spatial distribution of a surface accommodated noncondensable gas. The global measurements of NMS revealed the presence of a localized Ar enhancement that has never been identified before at the western maria. The variability resulting from this local enhancement is coupled to a more global but transient source.
Key Points
Exospheric He is controlled by solar wind and by an endogenous radiogenic source
Neon is present on the nightside at levels comparable to He
Localized Ar enhancement is present at the western maria
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Variability of helium, neon, and argon in the lunar exosphere as observed by the LADEE NMS instrument
- Creators
- M Benna - Goddard Space Flight CenterP. R Mahaffy - Goddard Space Flight CenterJ. S Halekas - University of IowaR. C Elphic - Ames Research CenterG. T Delory - Ames Research Center
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical research letters, Vol.42(10), pp.3723-3729
- DOI
- 10.1002/2015GL064120
- ISSN
- 0094-8276
- eISSN
- 1944-8007
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- NASA (NAS5‐02099)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/28/2015
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984199832202771
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