Extent of the Magnetotail of Venus From the Solar Orbiter, Parker Solar Probe and BepiColombo FlybysSwedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala, Sweden.
Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.
Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.
Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.
Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.
Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Plasmas, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
LPP, CNRS, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, Sorbonne Université, École Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau, France.
Department of Space Physics, Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia.
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA; University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD, USA.
Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria.
Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria.
Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria.
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2024 (English)In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics, ISSN 2169-9380, E-ISSN 2169-9402, Vol. 129, no 10, article id e2024JA032603Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
We analyze data from multiple flybys by the Solar Orbiter, BepiColombo, and Parker Solar Probe (PSP) missions to study the interaction between Venus' plasma environment and the solar wind forming the induced magnetosphere. Through examination of magnetic field and plasma density signatures we characterize the spatial extent and dynamics of Venus' magnetotail, focusing mainly on boundary crossings. Notably, we observe significant differences in boundary crossing location and appearance between flybys, highlighting the dynamic nature of Venus' magnetotail. In particular, during Solar Orbiter's third flyby, extreme solar wind conditions led to significant variations in the magnetosheath plasma density and magnetic field properties, but the increased dynamic pressure did not compress the magnetotail. Instead, it is possible that the increased EUV flux at this time rather caused it to expand in size. Key findings also include the identification of several far downstream bow shock (BS), or bow wave, crossings to at least 60 (Formula presented.) (1 (Formula presented.) = 6,052 km is the radius of Venus), and the induced magnetospheric boundary to at least (Formula presented.) 20 (Formula presented.). These crossings provide insight into the extent of the induced magnetosphere. Pre-existing models from Venus Express were only constrained to within (Formula presented.) 5 (Formula presented.) of the planet, and we provide modifications to better fit the far-downstream crossings. The new model BS is now significantly closer to the central tail than previously suggested, by about 10 (Formula presented.) at 60 (Formula presented.) downstream.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
American Geophysical Union (AGU) , 2024. Vol. 129, no 10, article id e2024JA032603
Keywords [en]
BepiColombo, bow shock, Parker Solar Probe, Solar Orbiter, Venus
National Category
Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology Geophysics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-354635DOI: 10.1029/2024JA032603ISI: 001321297500001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85205374994OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-354635DiVA, id: diva2:1904531
Note
QC 20241010
2024-10-092024-10-092024-10-14Bibliographically approved