Title

Mercury'S Complex Exosphere: Results From Messenger'S Third Flyby

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.

Publication Date

8-6-2010

Publication Title

Science

Volume

329

Issue

5992

Number of Pages

672-675

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1188572

Socpus ID

77955283969 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/77955283969

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