HR: 09:15h
AN: P41B-06    [Abstracts]
TI: MESSENGER and Venus Express Observations of the Solar Wind Interaction with Venus: A Dual Spacecraft Study
AU: * Slavin, J A
EM: James.A.Slavin@nasa.gov
AF: NASA GSFC, Heliophysics Science Division, Greenbelt, 20771, United States
AU: Acuņa, M H
AF: NASA GSFC, Solar System Exploration Division, Greenbelt, MD, United States
AU: Anderson, B J
AF: The Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, 20723, United States
AU: Barabash, S
AF: Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna, SE-981 28, Sweden
AU: Benna, M
AF: NASA GSFC, Solar System Exploration Division, Greenbelt, MD, United States
AU: Boardsen, S A
AF: NASA GSFC, Heliophysics Science Division, Greenbelt, 20771, United States
AU: Fraenz, M
AF: Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Katlenburg-Lindau, 37191, Germany
AU: Gloeckler, G
AF: University of Michigan, Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences, Ann Arbor, 48109, United States
AU: Gold, R E
AF: The Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, 20723, United States
AU: Ho, G C
AF: The Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, 20723, United States
AU: Korth, H
AF: The Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, 20723, United States
AU: Krimigis, S M
AF: The Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, 20723, United States
AU: McNutt, R L
AF: The Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, 20723, United States
AU: Raines, J M
AF: University of Michigan, Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences, Ann Arbor, 48109, United States
AU: Sarantos, M
AF: NASA GSFC, Heliophysics Science Division, Greenbelt, 20771, United States
AU: Solomon, S C
AF: Carnegie Institution, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Washington, 20015, United States
AU: Zhang, T L
AF: Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, 8042, Austria
AU: Zurbuchen, T H
AF: University of Michigan, Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences, Ann Arbor, 48109, United States
AB: At 23:08 UT on 5 June 2007 the MESSENGER spacecraft reached its closest approach altitude (338 km) during its second flyby of Venus en route to its 2011 orbit insertion at Mercury. Whereas no measurements were collected during MESSENGER's first Venus flyby in October 2006, the Magnetometer (MAG) and the Energetic Particle and Plasma Spectrometer (EPPS) operated successfully throughout this second encounter. Venus provides the solar system's best example of a solar wind - ionosphere planetary interaction. Pioneer Venus Orbiter measurements have shown that this interaction affects the upper atmosphere and ionosphere down to altitudes of ~ 150 km. Here we present an initial overview of the MESSENGER observations during the ~ 4 hrs that the spacecraft spent within 10 planetary radii of Venus and, together with Venus Express measurements, examine the influence of solar wind plasma and interplanetary magnetic field conditions on the solar wind interaction at solar minimum.
DE: 5421 Interactions with particles and fields
DE: 6295 Venus
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting