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

    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

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    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

    Language

    English

    First Page

    672

    Last Page

    675

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000280602700036

    ISSN

    0036-8075

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