Abstract Details

Name: Dibyendu Nandi
Affiliation: CESSI & Physics, IISER Kolkata
Conference ID : ASI2024_665
Title : First Simulations of the Sun-Earth-Moon Integrated Space Environment: A New Window into Exotic Physics in an Exotic Domain
Authors : Dibyendu Nandy1, Souvik Roy1, Srikar P Tadepalli2, Ranadeep G Dastidar1, Arnab Basak1, Arghya Mukherjee1, Shyama Narendranath2
Authors Affiliation: 1 Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India and Department of Physical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India 2 Space Astronomy Group, U R Rao Satellite Centre, ISRO, Bengaluru 560017, India
Mode of Presentation: Oral
Abstract Category : Sun, Solar System, Exoplanets, and Astrobiology
Abstract : While it is well known that the Sun’s activity modulates planetary space environments, the interaction of the moon with the solar wind forced Earth’s magnetosphere has remained an enigma. Exploring such interactions necessitate observations in the geotail during lunar transit. Uncovering the physics at play therein demands novel numerical modelling approaches. Here we present results from the first computational model of the solar wind-earth-moon system demonstrating that the moon encounters a dynamic space environment while transiting the Earth’s magnetosphere. A comparative analysis of observations from the Chandrayaan-2 Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (CLASS) indicates enhancement in the flux of energetic electrons during the moon’s geotail transit. Taken together, these results provide new insights on exotic magnetohydrodynamic processes that are relevant for understanding star—(exo)planet—(exo)moon interactions.