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Paper: The Dust Environment of Airless Planetary Bodies
Volume: 513, Serendipities in the Solar System and Beyond
Page: 183
Authors: Horányi, M.; Szalay, J. R.; Wang, X.
Abstract: The dust environment of airless planetary bodies is sculpted by: a) their continual bombardment by interplanetary dust particles; and b) their exposure to the solar wind plasma flow and ultraviolet radiation. Here we discuss the permanently present dust ejecta cloud engulfing the Moon, as observed by the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) mission. LADEE found no evidence for the anticipated high-altitude population of small particles lofted by electrostatic effects. On the other hand, the charging induced mobilization and transport of dust particles is still expected to be an efficient resurfacing process, especially as it was recently demonstrated in a series of laboratory experiments.
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