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A permanent, asymmetric dust cloud around the Moon.

M Horányi1, J R Szalay1, S Kempf1

  • 11] Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA [2] Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA [3] Institute for Modeling Plasma, Atmospheres, and Cosmic Dust (IMPACT), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA.

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Scientists discovered a permanent dust cloud around the Moon, created by cometary dust impacts. This lunar dust exosphere density increases during meteor showers, suggesting similar clouds may exist around other airless bodies.

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Area of Science:

  • Planetary Science
  • Space Physics
  • Astronomy

Background:

  • Interplanetary dust impacts create gas and dust clouds around celestial bodies.
  • Dust exospheres have been observed around icy moons but not refractory bodies.
  • Previous lunar observations of a 'horizon glow' were inconsistent with later orbital data.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and origin of a dust cloud around the Moon.
  • To reconcile conflicting observations of lunar dust.
  • To understand dust exosphere formation on airless bodies.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of high-altitude observations.
  • Comparison with in situ dust instrument data.
  • Modeling of dust particle trajectories and origins.

Main Results:

  • A permanent, asymmetric dust cloud around the Moon was observed.
  • Cometary dust particles on eccentric orbits are identified as the primary source.
  • Lunar dust cloud density correlates with annual meteor showers, like the Geminids.

Conclusions:

  • The Moon possesses a persistent dust exosphere generated by cometary impacts.
  • This finding challenges previous assumptions about dust clouds on refractory bodies.
  • Airless planetary bodies are likely surrounded by similar tenuous dust clouds.