Searching for Electron‐Only Magnetic Reconnection on Lunar Crustal Magnetic Fields: A Case Study of Kaguya Low‐Altitude Observations

Due to the lack of low‐altitude (50 km), high‐time‐resolution measurements, expected electron‐only magnetic reconnection near lunar magnetic anomalies (LMAs) has not been directly observed by lunar orbiters even though it is expected from numerical simulations and laboratory experiments. In this study, we analyze Kaguya's low‐altitude (29 km) electron data with a time resolution of 1 s. We first present an observation of a current sheet crossing near the South‐Pole Aitken magnetic anomaly, accompanied by an electron jet in the absence of any ion jet and by a magnetic flux rope. These signatures suggest potential in situ detection of electron‐only magnetic reconnection near the LMA. Our observational results offer further support for the occurrence of electron‐only magnetic reconnection near LMAs and imply that LMAs can provide plasma‐physics laboratories to investigate the nature of electron‐only magnetic reconnection.