Premium
Direct observation of lunar pick‐up ions near the Moon
Author(s) -
Mall U.,
Kirsch E.,
Cierpka K.,
Wilken B.,
Söding A.,
Neubauer F.,
Gloeckler G.,
Galvin A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/1998gl900003
Subject(s) - astrobiology , spacecraft , ion , solar wind , far side of the moon , lunar soil , physics , spectrometer , geology , environmental science , astronomy , optics , plasma , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics
Measurements made with the Suprathermal Ion Spectrometer (STICS) on the WIND spacecraft during 17 lunar fly‐bys which took place between 1995 and 1997 allow the direct observations of lunar pick‐up ions (PUI's) on the earthwards side of the Moon as close as 17 lunar radii. The composition measurements reveal an O + , an Al + , Si + and possibly a P + component.