Abstract
Solar wind interactions with planetary bodies without intrinsic magnetic fields depend to a large extent on the electrical conductivities of the objects in question. If the combined (i.e., ionospheric and interior) electrical conductivities are large, as in the case of Venus, the solar wind interaction is strong due to the generation of a large electrical current flow. It is suggested here that a similar interaction may occur at some asteroids, if their interior conductivity can be approximated by the conductivities of carbonaceous or iron-bearing meteorites. This interaction, in turn, can be used as a tool for remote sensing of the asteroidal interior properties in a spacecraft mission to asteroids.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bowell, E., Chapman, C. R., Gradie, J. C., Morrison D., and Zellner, B.: 1978,Icarus 35, 313.
Brecher, A., Briggs, P. L., and Simmons, G.: 1975,Earth Planet. Sci. Letters 28, 37.
Chapman, C. R.: 1979, in T. Gehrels (ed.),Asteroids, University of Arizona Press, p. 25.
Dessler, A. J.: 1968, in J. C. Brandt and M. B. McElroy (eds.),Atmospheres of Venus and Mars, Gordon and Brech p. 241.
Dryer, M.: 1968,J. Geophys. Res. 73, 3583.
Gold, T.: 1966, in J. Mackin and M. Neugebauer (eds.),The Solar Wind, Pergamon, p. 381.
Herbert, F.: 1980,The Moon and the Planets 23, 127.
Huebner, J. S., Duba, A., and Wiggins, L. B.: 1979,J. Geophys. Res. 84, 4652.
Lin, R. P., Anderson, K. A., Bush, R., and McGuire, R. E.: 1976,Proc. Lunar Sci. Conf. 7th,2691.
Ness, N. F., Acuna, M. H., Lepping, R. P., Burlaga, L. F., Behannon, K. W., and Neubauer, F. M.: 1979,Science 204, 986.
Parkhomenko, E. I.: 1967,Electrical Properties of Rocks, Plenum Press, N. Y.
Sonett, C. P., Colburn, D. S., and Schwartz, K.: 1968,Nature 219, 924.
Sonett, C. P., Smith, B. F., Colburn, D. S., Schubert, G., and Schwartz K.: 1972,Proc. Lunar Sci. Conf. 3rd 3, 2309.
Wu, S. T. and Dryer, M.: 1973, in R. J. L. Grad (ed.),Photon and Particle Interactions with Surfaces in Space, D. Reidel, Dordrecht, Holland, p. 453.
Zellner, B.: 1979, in T. Gehrels (ed.), Asteroids, University of Arizona Press, p. 783.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
IP, W.H., Herbert, F. On the asteroidal conductivities as inferred from meteorites. The Moon and the Planets 28, 43–47 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01371671
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01371671