Mercury's Atmosphere from Mariner 10: Preliminary Results
@article{Broadfoot1974MercurysAF, title={Mercury's Atmosphere from Mariner 10: Preliminary Results}, author={A. Lyle Broadfoot and S. Kumar and Michael J. S. Belton and Michael B. McElroy}, journal={Science}, year={1974}, volume={185}, pages={166 - 169} }
Analysis of data obtained by the ultraviolet experiment on Mariner 10 indicates that Mercury is surrounded by a thin atmosphere consisting in part of helium. The partial pressure of helium at the terminator is about 5 x 10-12 millibar. The total surface pressure of the atmosphere is less than about 2 x 10-9 millibar. Upper limits are set for the abundance of various gases, including hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, argon, neon, and xenon. The wavelength dependence of Mercury's surface albedo is…
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We wish to thank J. A. Simpson and H. S. Bridge for providing us with their unpublished data