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Title: The Lunar Dusty Exosphere: The Extreme Case of an Inner Planetary Atmosphere
Primary Author: W. M. Farrell
Secondary Author(s): Mihaly Horanyi
Institution: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center / University of Colorado
Summary: The Moon is an extreme type of atmosphere – a surface bounded exosphere – and may represent the final ‘ground state’ of any geologically dormant body. Neutral gas and dust are emitted from its surface via universal processes believed to be occurring at all near-airless bodies.
Panel Selection: Inner Planets: Mercury, Venus, and the Moon.
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These documents have been prepared in coordination with the National Academies of Science in support of the National Academies Planetary Science Decadal Survey. These documents are being made available for information purposes only, and any views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of NASA, JPL, or the California Institute of Technology.