Play

Date: December 20, 2011

Title: Mysteries of the Lunar Ionosphere

Podcaster: Nancy Atkinson and Bill Farrell.

Organization: NASA Lunar Science Institute

Links: NLSI, DREAM, LADEE mission

Description: We normally think of the Moon as not having an atmosphere but we have known for some time that the Moon does have an ionosphere. How can this be? Scientists have been trying to understand this phenomenon for decades but recently have had some breakthroughs in their research. Dr. William Farrell provides insight on recent research and the upcoming LADEE mission.

Bio:
The NLSI brings together leading lunar scientists from around the world to further NASA lunar science and exploration.

Dr. William Farrell is a space plasma physicist specializing in the electrodynamics found in planetary atmospheres, magnetospheres, and on primitive bodies. He is a scientific co-investigator on the Cassini mission to Saturn, the Wind spacecraft in the solar wind, and a Participating Scientist on Mars Express MARSIS radar instrument. As an experimentalist, his lab team has built science systems for 8 sub-orbital and space flight missions. His lunar research includes the dynamic interaction of solar charged particles and radiation with the surface – affecting volatiles release and collection, surface charging, dust transport, the exo-ionosphere, and polar exploration.

Nancy Atkinson is a science journalist and is the Senior Editor for Universe Today

Music:  “Amelia” by Ben Bedford from his “Land of the Shadows” CD. http://benbedford.com/

Sponsor: This episode of 365 Days of Astronomy was sponsored by Matthew Goeringer.

Transcript:

–Coming Soon!–

End of podcast:

365 Days of Astronomy
=====================
The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Astrosphere New Media Association. Audio post-production by Preston Gibson. Bandwidth donated by libsyn.com and wizzard media. Web design by Clockwork Active Media Systems. You may reproduce and distribute this audio for non-commercial purposes. Please consider supporting the podcast with a few dollars (or Euros!). Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org. Until tomorrow…goodbye.