Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Andrea Lewis on 19/01/2011 16:30:06

Title: Why doesn't solar wind move dust on the moon?
Post by: Andrea Lewis on 19/01/2011 16:30:06

Andrea Lewis  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hi everyone
 
I know the moon doesn't have an atmosphere therefore the dust doesn't move, but if the solar wind is strong enough to remove an atmosphere from a planet, why doesn't it move the dust on the moon???
 
Keep up the great podcasts (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/)!
 
Many thanks
 
Andrea Lewis
Hobart  Tasmania  Australia

What do you think?

Title: Why doesn't solar wind move dust on the moon?
Post by: CliffordK on 20/01/2011 00:27:01

The solar wind reaching Earth is high speed, charged ions, but on the range of 5-10 particles per cc.  Even though moon dust is very fine, I don't think the low density of solar wind is enough to move it.

The moon doesn't have enough gravity to hold a significant atmosphere.