Temporal Variability of Lunar Exospheric Helium During January 2012 from LRO/LAMP

TL;DR

This study uses LRO/LAMP ultraviolet spectrograph data from late December 2011 to January 2012 to analyze lunar helium exosphere variability, revealing solar wind influence and magnetotail effects on helium surface density.

Contribution

First detailed observation of lunar helium exosphere variability during a specific period, linking it to solar wind and magnetotail interactions.

Findings

Helium surface density shows little latitudinal variation.

Day-to-day helium density variations correlate with solar wind alpha flux.

Magnetotail passage causes a twofold decrease in helium density.

Abstract

We report observations of the lunar helium exosphere made between December 29, 2011, and January 26, 2012, with the Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP) ultraviolet spectrograph on NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission (LRO). The observations were made of resonantly scattered He I 584 from illuminated atmosphere against the dark lunar surface on the dawn side of the terminator. We find no or little variation of the derived surface He density with latitude but day-to-day variations that likely reflect variations in the solar wind alpha flux. The 5-day passage of the Moon through the Earth's magnetotail results in a factor of two decrease in surface density, which is well explained by model simulations.