Interplanetary cosmic dust flux

Abstract

Pioneer 8 and 9 measured cosmic dust flux rate data are in agreement with astronomy theory, zodiacal light measurements, and ground-based observations, but differ markedly from the high flux rates deduced from earlier in situ measurements. As many as seven orders-of-magnitude separate the small particle end of the high and low flux curves. It was concluded that the data from the multicoincidence cosmic dust sensors have not only measured very low flux for micrometeorites, which is in keeping with astronomy theory, but have also shown how a high flux theory may be based on faulty data.