Atmosphere of the Moon

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Surveyor 7 observes levitating dust, a phenomenon named Lunar horizon glow can be seen
The thin lunar atmosphere is visible on the Moon's surface at sunrise and sunset with the lunar horizon glow[1] and lunar twilight rays, like Earth's crepuscular rays. This Apollo 17 sketch depicts the glow and rays[2] among the general zodiacal light[3][4].

The atmosphere of the Moon is a very scant presence of gases surrounding the

atm (0.3 nPa), varying throughout the day, and in total mass less than 10 metric tonnes.[5][6]
Otherwise, the Moon is considered not to have an atmosphere because it cannot absorb measurable quantities of radiation, does not appear layered or self-circulating, and requires constant replenishment due to the high rate at which its gases are lost into space.

Roger Joseph Boscovich was the first modern astronomer to argue for the lack of atmosphere around the Moon in his De lunae atmosphaera (1753).

Sources

One source of the lunar atmosphere is outgassing: the release of gases such as radon and helium resulting from radioactive decay within the crust and mantle. Another important source is the bombardment of the lunar surface by micrometeorites, the solar wind, and sunlight, in a process known as sputtering.[7]

Escape velocity and atmospheric hold

Gases can:

Composition

What little atmosphere the Moon has consists of some unusual gases, including sodium and potassium, which are not found in the atmospheres of Earth, Mars, or Venus. At sea level on Earth, each cubic centimeter of the atmosphere contains approximately 1019 molecules; by comparison the lunar atmosphere contains fewer than 106 molecules in the same volume. On Earth, this is considered to be a very good vacuum. In fact, the density of the atmosphere at the Moon's surface is comparable to the density of some of the outermost fringes of Earth's atmosphere, where the International Space Station orbits.[8]

The elements sodium and potassium have been detected in the Moon's atmosphere using Earth-based

Argon-40, helium-4, oxygen and/or methane (CH4), nitrogen (N2) and/or carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2)) were detected by in-situ detectors placed by the Apollo astronauts.[10]

The average daytime abundances of the elements known to be present in the lunar atmosphere, in atoms per cubic centimeter, are as follows:

This yields approximately 80,000 total atoms per cubic centimeter, marginally higher than the quantity posited to exist in the atmosphere of Mercury.[10] While this greatly exceeds the density of the solar wind, which is usually on the order of just a few protons per cubic centimeter, it is virtually a vacuum in comparison with the atmosphere of the Earth.

The Moon may also have a tenuous "atmosphere" of electrostatically levitated dust. See Lunar soil for more details.

Ancient atmosphere

In October 2017,

stripped away by solar winds and dissipated into space.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Lunar horizon glow from Surveyor 7". The Planetary Society. May 6, 2016. Retrieved Aug 8, 2022.
  2. ^ "NASA Mission To Study Mysterious Lunar Twilight Rays". Science Mission Directorate. Sep 3, 2013. Retrieved Aug 8, 2022.
  3. . Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  4. ^ Deborah Byrd (Apr 24, 2014). "The zodiacal light, seen from the moon". EarthSky. Retrieved Aug 8, 2022.
  5. ^ Williams, David R. "Moon Fact Sheet". NASA. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  6. ^ Globus, Ruth (1977). "Chapter 5, Appendix J: Impact Upon Lunar Atmosphere". In Johnson, Richard D.; Holbrow, Charles (eds.). Space Settlements: A Design Study. NASA. NASA SP-413. Archived from the original on 2010-05-31. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  7. .
  8. ^ "Is There an Atmosphere on the Moon?". NASA. 12 April 2013.
  9. .
  10. ^ .
  11. ^ . Neon was detected over the nightside at levels comparable to He and was found to exhibit the spatial distribution of a surface accommodated noncondensable gas.
  12. ^ Steigerwald, William A. (17 August 2015). "NASA's LADEE Spacecraft Finds Neon in Lunar Atmosphere". NASA. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  13. ^ Ciaccia, Chris (July 24, 2018). "Life on the Moon? New study argued life could have existed on the lunar surface". Fox News.
  14. ^ "NASA: The Moon Once Had an Atmosphere That Faded Away". Time. Retrieved 16 April 2018.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from Is There an Atmosphere on the Moon?.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
.