Observation at the planet Mercury by the plasma electron experiment: Mariner Mariner 10

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA082i013p01807· OSTI ID:7112453

Ogilvie, K W; Scudder, J D; Vasyliunas, V M; Hartle, R E; Siscoe, G L

Plasma electron observations made on board Mariner 10 during its three encounters with the planet Mercury show that the planet interacts with the solar wind to form a bow shock and a permanent magnetosphere. The observations provide a determination of the dimensions and properties of the magnetosphere, independently of and in general agreement with magnetometer observations. The magnetosphere of Mercury appears to be similar in shape to that of the earth but much smaller in relation to the size of the planet. The average distance from the center of Mercury to the subsolar point of the magnetopause is approx.1.4 planetary radii. Electron populations similar to those found in the earth's magneto-tail, within the plasma sheet and adjacent regions, were observed at Mercury; both their spatial location and the electron energy spectra within them bear qualitative and quantitative resemblance to corresponding observations at the earth. In general, the magnetosphere of Mercury resembles to a marked degree a reduced version of that of the earth, there being no significant differences of structure revealed by the Mariner 10 observations. Quantities in the two magnetospheres are related by simple scaling laws. The size of Mercury relative to its magnetosphere precludes, however, the existence of stably trapped particle belts and of inner magnetosphere (Lapproximately-less-than8 at the earth) phenomena generally.

• Research Organization: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
• OSTI ID: 7112453
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 82:13; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
AURORAL OVAL
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY SPECTRA
FERMIONS
LEPTONS
LOSS CONE
MERCURY PLANET
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETARY MAGNETOSPHERES
PLANETS
PLASMA DRIFT
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
SPECTRA
TRAPPED ELECTRONS