Scientists are investigating the levitation of cosmic dust on celestial bodies.
A new study by NASA scientists may explain how dust particles on the Moon "rise" just above the surface and levitate. And all this despite the fact that there is not the slightest wind to make it possible.
In a recent study conducted in the laboratory of the Earth, scientists found that dust particles as small as microns could "jump" a few centimeters in height when exposed to ultraviolet radiation or plasma. The discovery could help researchers better understand how lunar dust is transported long distances on the surface of our natural satellite, as well as other celestial bodies.
“Based on our experiment, we can assume that dust particles on the Earth's satellite can rise to a height of about 10 centimeters. This could be caused by exposure to the solar wind.”
This electrostatic levitation of cosmic dust could explain the formation of "dust pools" on asteroid Eros and comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko, as well as explain the absolutely smooth surface on the icy moon Atlas Saturn.