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Interplanetary dust between 1 and 5 AUAnalyses of data from the Meteoroid Detection Experiment (MDE) and the Imaging Photopolarimeter (IPP) aboard Pioneer 10 and 11 have led to contradictory conclusions. While the MDE indicates a significant particle environment in the outer solar system (out to at least 5 AU), the IPP sees no zodiacal light (therefore implying no small particles) past 3.3 AU. These two results are reconciled by noting that the spectral index p (relating particle radius and particle concentration) is not a constant in the solar system but changes from less than 2 near 1 AU to more than 2.5 at 5 AU for particles in the range of 10 microns.
Document ID
19790045170
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Stanley, J. E.
(Virginia Univ. Charlottesville, VA, United States)
Singer, S. F.
(Virginia, University Charlottesville, Va., United States)
Alvarez, J. M.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, Va., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1979
Publication Information
Publication: Icarus
Volume: 37
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
79A29183
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-1256
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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