Question about dust on the Moon

[PeterB]

There's a hoax believer here in Australia who's a regular on another science bulletin board I occasionally visit (Dr Karl's Self Service Science Forum). His main objection to the Moon landings is that the lunar surface dust would generate an electrostatic charge in sunlight which would cause it to levitate in clouds thick enough to make it impossible for the astronauts to operate.

I understand that it was something along these lines which had Dave Scott concerned that his hammer and feather demonstration mightn't work - that the feather would stick to his glove.

Now I'm going to be doing a radio discussion in a couple of weeks about the Moon Hoax, and I'd like to discuss this issue (the HB I refer to above will probably be listening in, and I don't want him claiming he's got me stumped).

So can someone please explain the background to this effect, how much of a problem it was, and in what ways this guy's claims are wrong.

Cheers

[Obviousman]

Pete,

have a look here:

science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/30mar_moonfountains.htm

Zarky ain't going to believe it, though.....

[Obviousman]

This is another one:

www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2005/pdf/2277.pdf

[Obviousman]

You could check up on the progress of this experiment:

www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/LPSC98/pdf/1527.pdf

[PeterB]

Cheers Obviousman

Just what I needed. Yes it's there, but at densities far lower than he claims.