3 ms·
According to https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/jess/114/06/0637-0644 https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/jess/114/06/0637-0644, the mean free path of pa
by cwillu 2y ago
According to https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/jess/114/06/0637-0644 https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/jess/114/06/0637-0644, the mean free path of particles in the moon's “atmosphere” is thousands of km.
This makes me think it's probably a combination of suborbital and out-gassing during daylight, with the occasional collision boosting a molecule to orbital or escape velocities. Which technically would be pressure I guess, but not on normal timescales.
- zardo 2y agoThat link talks about gas molecules, but the article is saying ions. Whether or not these are ionized particles would have a big impact on what's happening.
- JumpCrisscross 2y ago> Whether or not these are ionized particles would have a big impact on what's happening The lunar atmosphere is theorised to come from two sources: impact vaporisation and ion sputtering. When immediately produced, the latter will produce ionised particles wihle the former will have no preference. Both will be subject to later photo-ionization once...erm...airborne.