An upper limit for the flux of interstellar dust grains in the solar system.
Abstract
Data from the LEAM (Lunar Ejecta and Meteorite experiment, a micrometeorite detector at the Apollo 17 landing site) have been examined for evidence of interstellar (IS) dust grains traversing the solar system. The analysis technique considers IS grains approaching the solar system from the local solar apex. A model calculates the grains' hyperbolic orbits into the solar system and predicts the impact directions on the moon. The observations are then compared with the predicted impact directions to measure the IS dust flux. No evidence has been found (at the 97.5% confidence level) for a flux greater than about 6 hundred-thousandths per sq m/sec for particles of at least 2 by 10 to the -14th power g.
- Publication:
-
Space Research XVII
- Pub Date:
- 1977
- Bibcode:
- 1977spre.conf..631T
- Keywords:
-
- Cosmic Dust;
- Interplanetary Dust;
- Interstellar Matter;
- Particle Flux Density;
- Solar System;
- Extremum Values;
- Granular Materials;
- Impact Prediction;
- Lunar Surface;
- Astrophysics;
- Grains:Interstellar Dust;
- Interstellar Dust:Planetary System