NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
An Assessment of the Length and Variability of Mercury's MagnetotailWe employ Mariner 10 measurements of the interplanetary magnetic field in the vicinity of Mercury to estimate the rate of magnetic reconnection between the interplanetary magnetic field and the Hermean magnetosphere. We derive a time-series of the open magnetic flux in Mercury's magnetosphere. from which we can deduce the length of the magnetotail The length of the magnetotail is shown to be highly variable. with open field lines stretching between 15R(sub H) and 8S0R(sub H) downstream of the planet (median 150R(sub H)). Scaling laws allow the tail length at perihelion to be deduced from the aphelion Mariner 10 observations.
Document ID
20120011924
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Milan, S. E.
(Leicester Univ. United Kingdom)
Slavin, J. A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 26, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 2011
Publication Information
Publication: Planetary and Space Science
Volume: 59
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.JA.01251.2012
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: PP/E000983/1
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available