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New results on the Pioneer Venus Orbiter February 10‐11, 1982 events: A solar wind disturbance not a comet
Author(s) -
Intriligator D. S.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl012i004p00187
Subject(s) - solar wind , venus , orbiter , physics , comet , coronal mass ejection , comet tail , interplanetary magnetic field , astronomy , geophysics , astrophysics , astrobiology , atmospheric sciences , plasma , quantum mechanics
We study the characteristics of a series of disturbances observed on February 10‐11, 1982 by the plasma analyzer and the magnetometer on the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) obtained in the solar wind upstream of Venus. We conclude that the events were associated with the propagation of a solar wind disturbance of coronal origin and not with an encounter with a comet or other local outgassing object (Russell et al., 1983). The plasma analyzer spectra clearly show the presence of increases in He ++ and they argue strongly against Russell et al.'s interpretation. The peak in magnetic field magnitude on February 11 is identified as the magnetic signature of a thin, trailing "filament" at the end of a series of solar initiated events. Corresponding increases in He ++ and magnetic field fluctuations were observed near earth by ISEE‐3 about a day later, and this strongly supports the concept of a solar origin.