Heliosphere

Global Helium Abundance Measurements in Solar Corona

Retrieved on: 
Friday, September 18, 2020
Physical sciences, Space plasmas, Plasma physics, Natural sciences, Astrophysics, Light sources, Solar phenomena, Diving equipment, Helium, Sun, Stellar corona, Heliosphere

Naval Research Laboratory Space Science Division (SSD) researchers joined an international cadre of scientists July 27 in presenting the results of the first simultaneous global solar corona images of the helium and hydrogen emission that is helping scientists to better understand the space environment.

Key Points: 
  • Naval Research Laboratory Space Science Division (SSD) researchers joined an international cadre of scientists July 27 in presenting the results of the first simultaneous global solar corona images of the helium and hydrogen emission that is helping scientists to better understand the space environment.
  • The paper, "Global Helium Abundance Measurements in the Solar Corona," was published online in Nature Astronomy and discusses the abundance of helium relative to hydrogen in the solar corona, the outer atmosphere of the sun, seen from earth only during eclipses.
  • NRL Astrophysicist Dennis Wang, Ph.D., software lead for the HElium Resonance Scattering in the Corona and HEliosphere (HERSCHEL) rocket flight, was responsible for flight and ground software.
  • His NRL colleague, Research Physicist Martin Laming, Ph.D., managed the new model of element abundance fractionation, to include helium.

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Southwest Research Institute to add PUNCH to NASA's solar mission lineup

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Physical sciences, Space plasmas, Plasma physics, Astronomy, Natural sciences, Heliosphere, Sun, Parker Solar Probe, Helios, Corona, Interplanetary medium, Heliophysics Science Division

Naval Research Laboratory researchers partnered with Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to shine a light on the impact of the solar atmosphere on the interplanetary medium between the Earth and the Sun.

Key Points: 
  • Naval Research Laboratory researchers partnered with Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to shine a light on the impact of the solar atmosphere on the interplanetary medium between the Earth and the Sun.
  • According to NASA , "it's a go" for the Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission, which is a cooperative effort between SwRI and NRL.
  • By studying this interplanetary medium, researchers gain a better understanding of how solar events impact Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field.
  • PUNCH will also leverage NASA's ongoing Parker Solar Probe mission, which is currently orbiting the Sun closer than any previous spacecraft.

NASA's Voyager 2 Probe Enters Interstellar Space

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 10, 2018
Spacecraft, Local Bubble, Discovery and exploration of the Solar System, Space plasmas, Spaceflight, Voyager program, Plasma physics, United States, Heliosphere, Voyager 1, Voyager 2, Heliopause

NASA's Voyager 2 probe now has exited the heliosphere the protective bubble of particles and magnetic fields created by the Sun.

Key Points: 
  • NASA's Voyager 2 probe now has exited the heliosphere the protective bubble of particles and magnetic fields created by the Sun.
  • Its twin, Voyager 1 , crossed this boundary in 2012, but Voyager 2 carries a working instrument that will provide first-of-its-kind observations of the nature of this gateway into interstellar space.
  • Until recently, the space surrounding Voyager 2 was filled predominantly with plasma flowing out from our Sun.
  • "There is still a lot to learn about the region of interstellar space immediately beyond the heliopause," said Ed Stone, Voyager project scientist based at Caltech in Pasadena, California.

NASA Selects Mission to Study Solar Wind Boundary of Outer Solar System

Retrieved on: 
Friday, June 1, 2018
Space plasmas, Astronomy, Outer space, Astrophysics, Plasma physics, Solar phenomena, Voyager program, Space science, Heliosphere, Solar wind, Solar System, Cosmic ray

The Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission will help researchers better understand the boundary of the heliosphere , a sort of magnetic bubble surrounding and protecting our solar system.

Key Points: 
  • The Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission will help researchers better understand the boundary of the heliosphere , a sort of magnetic bubble surrounding and protecting our solar system.
  • This region is where the constant flow of particles from our Sun, called the solar wind, collides with material from the rest of the galaxy.
  • Another objective of the mission is to learn more about the generation of cosmic rays in the heliosphere.
  • This will allow the probe to maximize use of its instruments to monitor the interactions between solar wind and the interstellar medium in the outer solar system.