<p>You'd probably be most interested in the results of the Lunar Dust EXperiment (LDEX).  A <a href="http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/leag2015/pdf/2083.pdf" rel="nofollow">2015 paper</a> states</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>LDEX data show no evidence for an electrostaticallylofted
  dust component at densities greater than a few
  per m3</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I am assuming the solar flare stuff didn't pan out, otherwise it would be mentioned in the various <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150617135035.htm" rel="nofollow">LDEX summary papers</a>.  In addition, the NASA DREAM group site doesn't seem to have anything relevant LADEE results, and they're the ones that brought the subject up in the first place.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-17T17:23:47.977Z
2015-11-17T17:23:47.977Z
Dave
<p><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/dream-cme.html">This article</a> from 2011 mentions simulations about the sputtering effect caused by a solar flare hitting the Moon:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"We found that when this massive cloud of plasma strikes the moon, it
  acts like a sandblaster and easily removes volatile material from the
  surface," said William Farrell, DREAM team lead at NASA Goddard. "The
  model predicts 100 to 200 tons of lunar material – the equivalent of
  10 dump truck loads – could be stripped off the lunar surface during
  the typical 2-day passage of a CME."</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The researchers said they were waiting for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_Atmosphere_and_Dust_Environment_Explorer">LADEE</a> to confirm these simulations and add new data, but I didn't find any conclusions on this subject on the <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LADEE/news/index.html">mission website</a>. I was interested if this event can create a significant static electricity difference between the 2 sides of the Moon, causing some sort of lightnings on the edges or even a mini-version of a dust storm.</p>

<the-moon><solar-flare><dust>
Any new info about solar flares hitting the Moon added by the LADEE mission?
symbiotech
# Any new info about solar flares hitting the Moon added by the LADEE mission?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-05-31)

[This article](http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/dream-cme.html) from 2011 mentions simulations about the sputtering effect caused by a solar flare hitting the Moon:

> "We found that when this massive cloud of plasma strikes the moon, it
> acts like a sandblaster and easily removes volatile material from the
> surface," said William Farrell, DREAM team lead at NASA Goddard. "The
> model predicts 100 to 200 tons of lunar material – the equivalent of
> 10 dump truck loads – could be stripped off the lunar surface during
> the typical 2-day passage of a CME."

The researchers said they were waiting for [LADEE](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_Atmosphere_and_Dust_Environment_Explorer) to confirm these simulations and add new data, but I didn't find any conclusions on this subject on the [mission website](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LADEE/news/index.html). I was interested if this event can create a significant static electricity difference between the 2 sides of the Moon, causing some sort of lightnings on the edges or even a mini-version of a dust storm.

**Tags:** the-moon, solar-flare, dust


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-11-17. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

You'd probably be most interested in the results of the Lunar Dust EXperiment (LDEX). A [2015 paper](http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/leag2015/pdf/2083.pdf) states

> LDEX data show no evidence for an electrostaticallylofted
> dust component at densities greater than a few
> per m3

I am assuming the solar flare stuff didn't pan out, otherwise it would be mentioned in the various [LDEX summary papers](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150617135035.htm). In addition, the NASA DREAM group site doesn't seem to have anything relevant LADEE results, and they're the ones that brought the subject up in the first place.


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