In a study published in the journal Science, the scientists outline the first views of the critical details of how this energy conversion process works in the Earth's
magnetotail.
A., and Coauthors, 2015:
Magnetotail dynamics at Mars: Initial MAVEN observations.
Hypothesis G: If the retroPK performance is modulated by the lunar
magnetotail passage, we can expect retroPK performance to be improved on days of lunar eclipses when the moon is moving deep through the
magnetotail of the earth rather than on other full moon days when the moon is moving through the outer rings of the
magnetotail.
The team found that a process called "magnetic reconnection" must have a big role in creating the Martian
magnetotail because, if reconnection were occurring, it would put the twist in the tail.
Observations made using the Cassini orbiter have shown mass loss through magnetic reconnection in the
magnetotail, but current estimates suggest that this mechanism is inadequate to remove all of the plasma emerging from the inner magnetosphere.
Departure LORRI and Ralph (MVIC) image crescents and search Phase 1 for rings; SWAP and PEPSSI study
magnetotail and pickup ions through one solar rotation; REX measures nightside temperatures.
Moreover, they may shed light on how large a role
magnetotail activity plays in generating auroras and other atmospheric phenomena above the Earth.
Passage of a shear layer perturbs the entire magnetosphere and ionosphere, which could produce a comet-like disconnection of the Earth's
magnetotail (the tail-like extension of Earth's magnetic field on the side facing away from the Sun).
After the encounter, New Horizons made the first spacecraft trip down Jupiter's
magnetotail, the streamer of charged particles and embedded magnetic fields extending more than 1 astronomical unit (some 160 million km) beyond the planet.
Washington, Dec 15 (ANI): For the very first time, NASA's spacecraft has captured images of
magnetotail structures and dynamic interactions occurring in the invisible space around Earth.
The orbits will be synchronized so that the five satellites will line up downwind from the Sun, along Earth's
magnetotail, once every four days.