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Peer-reviewedCC BYGeophysical Research Letters

Observing the Earth's Plasmasphere and Ionosphere From the Lunar Surface

  • Claudio Cesaroni1
  • Luca Spogli1
  • Marco Guerra1
  • Rebecca Ghidoni1
  • Vincenzo Ventriglia1
  • Alex Minetto2
  • Andrea Nardin2
  • Lucilla Alfonsi1
  • Fabio Dovis2
  1. 1Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia Rome Italy
  2. 2Politecnico di Torino Turin Italy
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Abstract

We present the analysis of the first lunar‐based observational characterization of the Earth's plasmasphere and ionosphere using Global Navigation Satellite Systems signals tracked from the lunar surface by the Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment (LuGRE). The Earth‐Moon geometry enables limb sounding of the plasmasphere at altitudes exceeding 3,000 km, bridging a critical observational gap. We compared Total Electron Content measurements from GPS and Galileo satellites' signals with predictions from the Global Core Plasma Model. While the model captures the general morphology of the plasmasphere, significant discrepancies emerge in the ionosphere/plasmasphere transition region. Specifically, LuGRE data reveal a overestimation of electron density by the model during the dayside phase indicating a lower plasma refilling efficiency than currently parameterized and an underestimation during the nightside phase. These results demonstrate the capability of lunar‐based GNSS measurements to continuously monitor the global plasma environment, paving the way for future permanent observatories on the Moon.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{cesaroni2026observing,
  title = {{Observing the Earth's Plasmasphere and Ionosphere From the Lunar Surface}},
  author = {Claudio Cesaroni and Luca Spogli and Marco Guerra and Rebecca Ghidoni and Vincenzo Ventriglia and Alex Minetto and Andrea Nardin and Lucilla Alfonsi and Fabio Dovis},
  journal = {Geophysical Research Letters},
  year = {2026},
  month = jun,
  doi = {10.1029/2026gl121811},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2026gl121811},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Observing the Earth's Plasmasphere and Ionosphere From the Lunar Surface
AU  - Claudio Cesaroni
AU  - Luca Spogli
AU  - Marco Guerra
AU  - Rebecca Ghidoni
AU  - Vincenzo Ventriglia
AU  - Alex Minetto
AU  - Andrea Nardin
AU  - Lucilla Alfonsi
AU  - Fabio Dovis
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/20
JO  - Geophysical Research Letters
DO  - 10.1029/2026gl121811
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1029/2026gl121811
AB  - We present the analysis of the first lunar‐based observational characterization of the Earth's plasmasphere and ionosphere using Global Navigation Satellite Systems signals tracked from the lunar surface by the Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment (LuGRE). The Earth‐Moon geometry enables limb sounding of the plasmasphere at altitudes exceeding 3,000 km, bridging a critical observational gap. We compared Total Electron Content measurements from GPS and Galileo satellites' signals with predictions from the Global Core Plasma Model. While the model captures the general morphology of the plasmasphere, significant discrepancies emerge in the ionosphere/plasmasphere transition region. Specifically, LuGRE data reveal a overestimation of electron density by the model during the dayside phase indicating a lower plasma refilling efficiency than currently parameterized and an underestimation during the nightside phase. These results demonstrate the capability of lunar‐based GNSS measurements to continuously monitor the global plasma environment, paving the way for future permanent observatories on the Moon.
SN  - 0094-8276
SN  - 1944-8007
ER  -