Pioneer solar plasma and magnetic field measurements in interplanetary space during 2--17 August 1972

Technical Report · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1973

OSTI ID:4403409

Mihalov, J D; Colburn, D S; Smith, B F; Sonett, C P; Wolfe, J H

Solar-wind plasma and magnetic-field measurements from Pioneers 9 and 10 durlng August 2--17, 1972, reveal complex and large-amplitude variations on a one- hour time scale and numerous discontinuities. During this time period an approximate radial alignment of the two spacecraft as seen from the Sun occurred with heliocentric distances of 0.8 AU for Pioneer 9 and 2.2 AU for Pioneer 10, both at 45 deg east of the Earth's solar longitude. The peak hourly average solar-wind proton bulk velocity measured at Pioneer 9 was 990 km/sec during hour 0 UT of August 5. The peak hourly average proton number density was 62/cu cm during hour 11 UT of August 3. The peak solar-wind speeds are generally much reduced at Pioneer 10 compared with those observed at Pioneer 9. The peak 30 minute average magnetic-field magnitude was 85 gamma during 1245-1515 UT of August 3. The Pioneer 9 data indicate passage of four fast forward interplanetary shocks, and one slow forward interplanetary shock. (auth)

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Huntsville, Ala. (USA). George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
• NSA Number: NSA-29-011020
• OSTI ID: 4403409
• Report Number(s): N--73-27719
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*INTERPLANETARY SPACE-- SHOCK WAVES
*SOLAR WIND-- VELOCITY
N56400* --Physics (Astrophysics & Cosmology)--Solar Phenomena
PIONEER SPACE PROBES
VARIATIONS