  Context. Standing slow-mode rarefaction and compression front structures may
appear in the Mercury magnetosheath under particular solar wind conditions.
  Aims. The aim of the study is to identify the wind conditions required for
the formation of slow-mode structures (SMS) in the Mercury magnetosphere by
comparing MESSENGER magnetometer data and magnetohydrodynamics simulations.
  Methods. We used the magnetohydrodynamics code PLUTO in spherical coordinates
to reproduce the interaction of the solar wind with the Mercury magnetosphere.
First, the optimal wind conditions for the SMS formation were identified with
respect to the orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and
dynamic pressure. Next, the magnetic field calculated in the simulations along
the MESSENGER trajectory was compared to MESSENGER magnetometer data to
identify tracers of the satellite encounter with the SMS.
  Results. Optimal wind conditions for the formation of SMS require that the
IMF is oriented in the northward or radial directions. The MESSENGER orbit on
8th September 2011 takes place during wind conditions that are close to the
optimal configuration for SMS formation near the north pole, leading to the
possible intersection of the satellite trajectory with the SMS. MESSENGER
magnetometer data show a rather strong decrease in the magnetic field module
after the satellite crossed nearby the compression front that is observed in
the simulation, providing indirect evidence of the SMS.
