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Issue A&A
Volume 431, Number 3, March I 2005
Page(s) 1123 - 1127
Section Planets and planetary systems
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20041800



A&A 431, 1123-1127 (2005)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20041800

Flux of meteoroid impacts on Mercury

S. Marchi1, A. Morbidelli2 and G. Cremonese

3

1  Dipartimento di Astronomia, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 2, 35122 Padova, Italy
    e-mail: marchi@pd.astro.it
2  Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
    e-mail: alessandro.morbidelli@obs-nice.fr
3  INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
    e-mail: cremonese@pd.astro.it



(Received 5 August 2004 / Accepted 18 October 2004 )

Abstract
In this work we present a new estimate of the meteoroid flux on Mercury. The flux has been obtained as a result of material delivery from both the 3:1 and  $\nu_6$ resonances, and calibrated on the basis of the Earth meteoroid flux. Our model does not take into account non-gravitational forces, like the Poynting-Robertson effect, and for this reason it is suitable for bodies having dimension greater than about 1 cm. We also analyse the dependence of the predicted impactor flux on Mercury on meteoroid size. Possible asymmetries of the meteoroid flux over the surface (morning/evening hemispheres) and along the orbit (perihelion/aphelion) are also discussed.


Key words: planets and satellites: individual: Earth -- planets and satellites: individual: Mercury -- meteors, meteoroids





© ESO 2005


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