A visualization of measurements of sodium-group ion flux (blue) and magnetic field (red) during MESSENGER's orbit on April, 14 2011. Sodium-group ions are measured throughout the entire magnetosphere, but they strongly peak near the magnetic cusps at the planet's poles, where the magnetic protection of the planet is least effective against the solar wind. Measurements from more than 120 orbits were used to assemble a global picture of Mercury's three-dimensional exosphere. Animation by Shannon Kohlitz, Media Academica, LLC
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