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Lunar Extreme Program Syllabus - Weeks 11-16

  • Weeks 15-16: The Lunar Exosphere and Environment


    Learning Goals:

    Students will be able to describe:
    • The Moon's exosphere and ionosphere
    • The lunar plasma environment
    • The effects of radiation on the lunar environment


    Suggested Reading/Resources:

    • The Lunar Dusty Exosphere: The Extreme Case of an Inner Planetary Atmosphere: Download PDF here
    • This is a paper written by many scientists, including most of the DREAM scientists, in late 2009. Its purpose was to provide evidence to NASA for why the lunar exosphere needs to be studied.
    • Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) - NASA Mission to Study the Moon’s Fragile Atmosphere: View Here
    • LADEE News article View Here
    • This article summarizes an upcoming lunar mission, called the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE), that is scheduled to launch in 2013. The mission will help address many of the scientific issues addressed in the above report and paper. The results from the 2012 Lunar Extreme Workshop should also help to validate the future findings of LADEE.
    • Mystery of the Lunar Ionosphere: View Here
    • Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) instrument on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter: View Here
    • Cosmic Rays Alter Chemistry of Lunar Ice: View Here

    Optional reading/resources that may be of interest:

    • New Views of the Lunar Plasma Environment: View Here


    Activity:

    Build a cloud chamber using simple materials (either at home or during the DREAM meeting). There are two options: • Option 1: View Here
    • Option 2 See page 16 of : View Here

    Discussion:

    • How might impacts by asteroids, meteors, and comets affect the lunar exosphere?
    • How might “impacts” by radiation affect dust that’s been lofted off the lunar surface?

Syllabus Weeks

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