Title

Mercury's Complex Exosphere: Results from MESSENGER's Third Flyby

Authors

Authors

R. J. Vervack; W. E. McClintock; R. M. Killen; A. L. Sprague; B. J. Anderson; M. H. Burger; E. T. Bradley; N. Mouawad; S. C. Solomon;N. R. Izenberg

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

Science

Keywords

SOLAR-WIND INTERACTION; MAGNETOSPHERE; SODIUM; SURFACE; ACCELERATION; ATMOSPHERE; DISCOVERY; EMISSION; MISSION; CALCIUM; Multidisciplinary Sciences

Abstract

During MESSENGER's third flyby of Mercury, the Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer detected emission from ionized calcium concentrated 1 to 2 Mercury radii tailward of the planet. This measurement provides evidence for tailward magnetospheric convection of photoions produced inside the magnetosphere. Observations of neutral sodium, calcium, and magnesium above the planet's north and south poles reveal altitude distributions that are distinct for each species. A two-component sodium distribution and markedly different magnesium distributions above the two poles are direct indications that multiple processes control the distribution of even single species in Mercury's exosphere.

Journal Title

Science

Volume

329

Issue/Number

5992

Publication Date

1-1-2010

Document Type

Article

DOI Link

http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1188572

Language

English

First Page

672

Last Page

675

WOS Identifier

WOS:000280602700036

ISSN

0036-8075

Recommended Citation

"Mercury's Complex Exosphere: Results from MESSENGER's Third Flyby" (2010). Faculty Bibliography 2010s. 904.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/facultybib2010/904