Space weathering is a general term used for different surface processes which happen to objects and celestial bodies in the harsh environment of outer space.
Detailed Definition:
Bodies in the outer space, which do not have atmospheres, are exposed to a number of devastating weathering processes, such as collisions of galactic or solar cosmic rays, the irradiation, implantation and spluttering from solar wind particles; the bombardment by different sizes of meteorites and micrometeorites. These phenomena are encompassed in the blanket term space weathering. The toll that space weathering takes on both the physical and optical properties of the surfaces of many celestial bodies is an important issue, as remotely sensed data needs to be processed appropriately.
Etymology:
"space" - Old French espace, Latin spatium - room, area, distance, stretch of time
"weather" - Old English weder, Old Saxon wedar, Old Norse veðr, German wetar - wind, weather
"we-" - Proto-Germanic wedra - to blow
Sample Sentence(s):
"Space weathering has to be accounted for during the design of space equipment."
Translations of Terms/Concepts into Partner Languages
