Cosmic dust measurements in lunar orbit
1996; Elsevier BV; Volume: 17; Issue: 12 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/0273-1177(95)00777-c
ISSN1879-1948
AutoresH. Iglseder, Kenjiro Uesugi, H. Svedhem,
Tópico(s)Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
ResumoOn 15th February 1992, ISAS space engineering satellite HITEN was successfully inserted into an elliptical orbit around the moon with perilune between some 100 km and 8000 km and apolune of about 50,000 km. On board was a small scientific experiment designed to detect cosmic dust particles, MDC — Munich Dust Counter. During a period of more than one year, until Hiten's hard landing on the moon surface at 10th of April 1993 (UTC), measurements of impact velocity, mass and crude flight direction of micrometeoroid particles have been performed. In total 150 cosmic dust impacts were detected and evaluated. From these measurements, the impact rate versus time and the dust flux versus distance from the moon are derived. The evidence of moon ejecta and some indications of particles which are orbiting the moon will be discussed. The spatial distribution of the measured particles is shown in lunarcentric as well as in heliocentric coordinate systems. The directional distribution is also given, showing the different populations of cosmic dust particles. Finally, the gathered data will be compared with previous results from measurements in the the vicinity of the Earth and in the geomagnetic tail region.
Referência(s)