{ "count": 38, "next": null, "previous": null, "results": [ { "id": 5609, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5609/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2026-01-26T05:00:00-05:00", "title": "Heliophysics Satellite Fleet - 2026", "description": "A tour of the NASA Heliophysics fleet from near-Earth satellites out to the Voyagers beyond the heliopause.", "hits": 861 }, { "id": 5571, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5571/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2025-07-22T17:00:00-04:00", "title": "NASA's Fleet of Active Satellites (July 2025)", "description": "This visualization shows the orbits of NASA satellites considered operational as of July 2025. It includes both NASA-managed missions and those operated by partner organizations.", "hits": 1401 }, { "id": 5443, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5443/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2024-12-17T00:00:00-05:00", "title": "Heliophysics Sentinels 2024", "description": "There have been some changes since the 2022 Heliophysics Fleet. AIM and ICON have been decommissioned while two other instruments have been added. AWE is an instrument mounted on the ISS, and RAD is a particle detector on the Curiosity Mars rover. As of Winter 2024, here's a tour of the NASA Heliophysics fleet from the near-Earth satellites out to the Voyagers beyond the heliopause. || ", "hits": 83 }, { "id": 4898, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4898/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2022-11-23T00:00:00-05:00", "title": "Heliophysics Sentinels 2022", "description": "There has been one significant change since the 2020 Heliophysics Fleet. SET has been decommissioned. As of Fall 2022, here's a tour of the NASA Heliophysics fleet from the near-Earth satellites out to the Voyagers beyond the heliopause.Excepting the Voyager missions, the satellite orbits are color coded for their observing program:Magenta: TIM (Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere) observationsYellow: solar observations and imageryCyan: Geospace and magnetosphereViolet: Heliospheric observations || ", "hits": 45 }, { "id": 4887, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4887/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2021-03-01T10:00:00-05:00", "title": "Heliophysics Sentinels 2020 (Forecast Version)", "description": "In addition to the NASA missions used in research for space weather (see 2020 Heliophysics Fleet) there are additional missions operated by NOAA used for space weather forecasting. As of spring 2020, here's a tour of the NASA and NOAA Heliophysics fleets from the near-Earth satellites out to the inner solar system.The satellite orbits are color coded for their observing program:Magenta: TIM (Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere) observationsYellow: solar observations and imageryCyan: Geospace and magnetosphereViolet: Heliospheric observations || ", "hits": 48 }, { "id": 4822, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4822/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2020-09-15T10:00:00-04:00", "title": "Heliophysics Sentinels 2020", "description": "There have been few changes since the 2018 Heliophysics Fleet. Van Allen Probes and SORCE have been decommissioned, while Solar Orbiter, ICON and SET have been added. As of spring 2020, here's a tour of the NASA Heliophysics fleet from the near-Earth satellites out to the Voyagers beyond the heliopause.Excepting the Voyager missions, the satellite orbits are color coded for their observing program:Magenta: TIM (Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere) observationsYellow: solar observations and imageryCyan: Geospace and magnetosphereViolet: Heliospheric observations || ", "hits": 48 }, { "id": 4360, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4360/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2018-12-10T11:00:00-05:00", "title": "Heliophysics Sentinels 2018", "description": "This movie presents the trajectories of the heliophysics fleet from close to Earth to out beyond the heliopause. || Sentinels2018.Sentinels2Voyager.GSE.AU.clockSlate_EarthTarget.UHD3840.00000_print.jpg (1024x576) [74.5 KB] || Sentinels2018.Sentinels2Voyager.GSE.AU.clockSlate_EarthTarget.UHD3840.00000_searchweb.png (180x320) [65.6 KB] || Sentinels2018.Sentinels2Voyager.GSE.AU.clockSlate_EarthTarget.UHD3840.00000_thm.png (80x40) [5.1 KB] || Sentinels2018.Sentinels2Voyager_1080p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [40.3 MB] || Sentinels2018.Sentinels2Voyager_1080p30.webm (1920x1080) [6.3 MB] || 1920x1080_16x9_30p (1920x1080) [0 Item(s)] || 3840x2160_16x9_30p (3840x2160) [0 Item(s)] || Sentinels2018.Sentinels2Voyager_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [125.7 MB] || Sentinels2018.Sentinels2Voyager_1080p30.mp4.hwshow || ", "hits": 60 }, { "id": 4595, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4595/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2017-11-27T10:00:00-05:00", "title": "Mapping Particle Injections in Earth's Magnetosphere", "description": "A view from above the northern hemisphere of particle injection propagation constructed from their respective satellite detections. Distinct injections, and their detection by satellites, are represented by different colors. || MagnetosphereMultiMission.top.GSE.AU.clockSlate_EarthTarget.HD1080i.01200_print.jpg (1024x576) [115.4 KB] || MagnetosphereMultiMission.top.GSE.AU.clockSlate_EarthTarget.HD1080i.01200_searchweb.png (320x180) [82.7 KB] || MagnetosphereMultiMission.top.GSE.AU.clockSlate_EarthTarget.HD1080i.01200_thm.png (80x40) [6.3 KB] || TopView (1920x1080) [0 Item(s)] || MagnetosphereMultiMission.top.HD1080i_p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [29.7 MB] || MagnetosphereMultiMission.top.HD1080i_p30.webm (1920x1080) [6.1 MB] || TopView (3840x2160) [0 Item(s)] || MagnetosphereMultiMission.top.UHD3840_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [93.0 MB] || MagnetosphereMultiMission.top.HD1080i_p30.mp4.hwshow [207 bytes] || ", "hits": 88 }, { "id": 4589, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4589/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2017-10-25T10:00:00-04:00", "title": "Heliophysics Sentinels 2017", "description": "This visualization starts from near Earth and the Earth orbiting satellite fleet out to the Moon, then past the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 1 to out beyond the heliopause. This is the long-play version. || Sentinels2017.Sentinels2Voyager.GSE.AU.clockSlate_EarthTarget.UHD3840.00000_print.jpg (1024x576) [136.1 KB] || Sentinels2017.Sentinels2Voyager.GSE.AU.clockSlate_EarthTarget.UHD3840.00000_searchweb.png (180x320) [84.6 KB] || Sentinels2017.Sentinels2Voyager.GSE.AU.clockSlate_EarthTarget.UHD3840.00000_thm.png (80x40) [6.0 KB] || Sentinels2017.Sentinels2Voyager.HD1080i_p30.webm (1920x1080) [12.4 MB] || SlowPlay (1920x1080) [0 Item(s)] || Sentinels2017.Sentinels2Voyager.HD1080i_p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [111.6 MB] || SlowPlay (3840x2160) [0 Item(s)] || Sentinels2017.Sentinels2Voyager_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [336.2 MB] || Sentinels2017.Sentinels2Voyager.HD1080i_p30.mp4.hwshow [209 bytes] || ", "hits": 52 }, { "id": 4288, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4288/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2015-06-10T00:00:00-04:00", "title": "The 2015 Earth-Orbiting Heliophysics Fleet", "description": "Movie showing the heliosphysics missions from near Earth orbit out to the orbit of the Moon.This video is also available on our YouTube channel. || Helio2015A.MMStour.slate_RigRHS.HD1080i.0500_print.jpg (1024x576) [112.6 KB] || Helio2015A.MMStour.HD1080.webm (1920x1080) [6.7 MB] || WithoutTimeStamp (1920x1080) [128.0 KB] || Helio2015A.MMStour.HD1080.mov (1920x1080) [196.3 MB] || Helio2015_4288.pptx [198.6 MB] || Helio2015_4288.key [201.3 MB] || ", "hits": 60 }, { "id": 4127, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4127/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2013-12-16T12:00:00-05:00", "title": "The 2013 Earth-Orbiting Heliophysics Fleet", "description": "There've been a few changes since the 2012 Earth-Orbiting Heliophysics Fleet. As of Fall of 2013, here's a tour of the NASA Near-Earth Heliophysics fleet, covering the space from near-Earth orbit out to the orbit of the Moon.The satellite orbits are color coded for their observing program:Magenta: TIM (Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere) observationsYellow: solar observations and imageryCyan: Geospace and magnetosphereViolet: Heliospheric observationsNear-Earth Fleet:Hinode: Observes the Sun in multiple wavelengths up to x-rays. SVS pageRHESSI : Observes the Sun in x-rays and gamma-rays. SVS pageTIMED: Studies the upper layers (40-110 miles up) of the Earth's atmosphere.FAST: Measures particles and fields in regions where aurora form.CINDI: Measures interactions of neutral and charged particles in the ionosphere. SORCE: Monitors solar intensity across a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum.AIM: Images and measures noctilucent clouds. SVS pageVan Allen Probes: Two probes moving along the same orbit esigned to study the impact of space weather on Earth's radiation belts. SVS pageTWINS: Two Wide-Angle Imaging Neutral-Atom Spectrometers (TWINS) are two probes observing the Earth with neutral atom imagers.IRIS: Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph is designed to take high-resolution spectra and images of the region between the solar photosphere and solar atmosphere.Geosynchronous Fleet:SDO: Solar Dynamics Observatory keeps the Sun under continuous observation at 16 megapixel resolution.GOES: The newest GOES satellites include a solar X-ray imager operated by NOAA.Geospace Fleet:Geotail: Conducts measurements of electrons and ions in the Earth's magnetotail. Cluster: This is a group of four satellites which fly in formation to measure how particles and fields in the magnetosphere vary in space and time. SVS pageTHEMIS: This is a fleet of three satellites to study how magnetospheric instabilities produce substorms. Two of the original five satellites were moved into lunar orbit to become ARTEMIS. SVS page IBEX: The Interstellar Boundary Explorer measures the flux of neutral atoms from the heliopause.Lunar Orbiting FleetARTEMIS: Two of the THEMIS satellites were moved into lunar orbit to study the interaction of the Earth's magnetosphere with the Moon. || ", "hits": 89 }, { "id": 4080, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4080/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2013-09-26T14:00:00-04:00", "title": "Reconnection Fronts - When Satellites Align...", "description": "In July of 2012, a fleet of spacecraft studying Earth's magnetosphere were in an ideal alignment to detect a particle flow predicted in magnetospheric models. The grey mesh shell structure represents the approximate location of the magnetopause.In this visualization, THEMIS, ARTEMIS (in orbit around the Moon), and Geotail, as well as the particle detectors on the GOES-13 and GOES-15 satellites achieved a good alignment around 09:45 on July 3, 2012 to detect one of the particle flows predicted by magnetospheric models. || ", "hits": 72 }, { "id": 3969, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3969/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2012-09-20T00:00:00-04:00", "title": "The 2012 Earth-Orbiting Heliophysics Fleet", "description": "Since Sentinels of the Heliosphere in 2008, there have been a few new missions, and a few missions have been shut down. As of Fall of 2012, here's a tour of the NASA Near-Earth Heliophysics fleet, covering the space from near-Earth orbit out to the orbit of the Moon.Revision (November 9, 2012): The RBSP mission has been renamed the Van Allen Probes. NASA Press Release.The satellite orbits are color coded for their observing program:Magenta: TIM (Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere) observationsYellow: solar observations and imageryCyan: Geospace and magnetosphereViolet: Heliospheric observationsNear-Earth Fleet:Hinode: Observes the Sun in multiple wavelengths up to x-rays. SVS pageRHESSI : Observes the Sun in x-rays and gamma-rays. SVS pageTIMED: Studies the upper layers (40-110 miles up) of the Earth's atmosphere.FAST: Measures particles and fields in regions where aurora form.CINDI: Measures interactions of neutral and charged particles in the ionosphere. SORCE: Monitors solar intensity across a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum.AIM: Images and measures noctilucent clouds. SVS pageRBSP: (Renamed the Van Allen Probes) Designed to study the impact of space weather on Earth's radiation belts. SVS pageGeosynchronous Fleet:SDO: Solar Dynamics Observatory keeps the Sun under continuous observation at 16 megapixel resolution.GOES: The newest GOES satellites include a solar X-ray imager operated by NOAA.Geospace Fleet:Geotail: Conducts measurements of electrons and ions in the Earth's magnetotail. Cluster: This is a group of four satellites which fly in formation to measure how particles and fields in the magnetosphere vary in space and time. SVS pageTHEMIS: This is a fleet of three satellites to study how magnetospheric instabilities produce substorms. Two of the original five satellites were moved into lunar orbit to become ARTEMIS. SVS page IBEX: The Interstellar Boundary Explorer measures the flux of neutral atoms from the heliopause.Lunar Orbiting FleetARTEMIS: Two of the THEMIS satellites were moved into lunar orbit to study the interaction of the Earth's magnetosphere with the Moon.Note: A number of near-Earth missions had their orbits generated from Two-Line orbital elements valid in July 2012. Orbit perturbations since then may result in significant deviation from the actual satellite position for the time frame of this visualization. || ", "hits": 66 }, { "id": 3994, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3994/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2012-09-20T00:00:00-04:00", "title": "RBSP & SDO: Newest Heliophysics Missions", "description": "The newest members of NASA's Heliophysics fleet are the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), launched February 11, 2010, and the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP), launched August 23, 2012.Revision (November 9, 2012): The RBSP mission has been renamed the Van Allen Probes. NASA Press Release. || ", "hits": 26 }, { "id": 3995, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3995/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2012-09-20T00:00:00-04:00", "title": "The Heliophysics Fleet at Lagrange Point 1", "description": "NASA and ESA operate a fleet of heliophysics satellites at the 'balance point' between the Earth and the Sun, known as Lagrange Point 1, or L1. SOHO, ACE, and Wind have been operating at this point for over 15 years (see SOHO @ 15, ACE @ 15). || ", "hits": 67 }, { "id": 3951, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3951/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2012-05-08T00:00:00-04:00", "title": "The Van Allen Probes (formerly Radiation Belt Storm Probes - RBSP) Explore the Earth's Radiation Belts", "description": "The Radiation Belt Storm Probe (RBSP) is actually two satellites that will travel on a elliptical orbit around the Earth, ranging between 1.5 and 6 Earth radii. This range covers the inner region of the Earth's geomagnetic field. In this region, many of the magnetic field lines intersect the surface of the Earth in the north and south. This means that lower energy ions and electrons, some 'boiled off' the Earth's ionosphere by solar ultraviolet radiation, can be trapped along these field lines. The charged particles spend their time bouncing between the 'mirror points' in the Earth's magnetic field. This trapped population forms the radiation belts around the Earth. The radiation created by this charged particle population can be hazardous to satellites and astronauts so it is important to understand their characteristics. || ", "hits": 125 }, { "id": 3942, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3942/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2012-04-19T00:00:00-04:00", "title": "The Van Allen Probes (formerly RBSP for Radiation Belt Storm Probes) in Earth Orbit", "description": "A basic visualization illustrating the orbit of RBSP around the Earth. This pair of probes will orbit the Earth between about 1.5 and 6 Earth radii to cover the region of the geomagnetically trapped particle radiation. || ", "hits": 62 }, { "id": 3847, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3847/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2011-08-18T14:00:00-04:00", "title": "From the Sun to the Earth: STEREO tracks a CME", "description": "For many years, the idea that coronal mass ejections (CME) launched from the Sun and could strike the Earth was inferred from an indirect chain of evidence collected from multiple satellites. Now the Heliospheric Imagers aboard the STEREO-A spacecraft has managed to view a CME propagate from the surface of the Sun to the Earth.This visualization shows the position of the STEREO spacecraft during the event, as well as the positions of the inner solar system planets, Venus and Mercury. A faint cone illustrates the field-of-view (FOV) of the HI-2 imager on STEREO-A. The position of the front of the CME is computed from STEREO data. || ", "hits": 55 }, { "id": 3682, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3682/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2010-10-27T12:00:00-04:00", "title": "ARTEMIS Mission", "description": "An extension to the THEMIS mission is to send two of the THEMIS satellites into lunar orbit to study the magnetospheric environment near the Moon. The new mission is named ARTEMIS (Acceleration, Reconnection Turbulence, and Electrodynamics of Moon's Interaction with the Sun).The outermost two THEMIS spacecraft (Probes B and C) are on route to the Moon, where they will become the ARTEMIS mission's Probes 1 and 2 (red and green, respectively) , tasked with studying not only the tenuous cavity carved out by the Moon in the supersonic solar wind, but also reconnection, particle energization and turbulence in both the solar wind and the Earth's distant magnetotail at lunar distance. ARTEMIS stands for Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence, and Electrodynamics of the Moon's Interaction with the Sun.Thanks to careful planning, sufficient fuel remained on both spacecraft at the successful completion of their primary mission to raise their apogees to lunar distance, where they could receive the multiple gravitational assists needed to fling the spacecraft first beyond the Moon and then assist them in entering in orbits that parallel that of the Moon at the L1 and L2 Lagrange points. Maneuvers in April 2011 enable the spacecraft to enter into prograde and retrograde lunar orbits (the 'braided' motion).The direction of the Sun is indicated by the yellow arrow. || ", "hits": 469 }, { "id": 3786, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3786/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2010-10-27T12:00:00-04:00", "title": "ARTEMIS at Lagrange: The View from Above", "description": "This visualization is built from the components of ARTEMIS Mission with emphasis on the maneuvers of the two ARTEMIS spacecraft (red=ARTEMIS-1, green=ARTEMIS-2) around the lunar Lagrange Points L1 and L2.As with the ARTEMIS Mission visual, we show the Earth, the Earth's magnetosphere, the Moon and Sun, with the direction of the Sun from the Earth indicated by the yellow arrow.In this version, the satellite trails are are constructed in a lunar-centric inertial coordinate system so the trails reveal the motion of the satellites relative to the Lagrange points in INERTIAL space (fixed with the distant stars). To see another example of how coordinate systems dramatically affect the construction of trails, see LRO in Earth Centered and Moon Centered Coordinates.In this movie, the camera stays above the Moon's orbital plane for a better view of the motion in the orbital plane. For a change in perspective, see ARTEMIS at Lagrange. || ", "hits": 243 }, { "id": 3787, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3787/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2010-10-27T12:00:00-04:00", "title": "ARTEMIS at Lagrange", "description": "This visualization is built from the components of ARTEMIS Mission with emphasis on the maneuvers of the two ARTEMIS spacecraft (red=ARTEMIS-1, green=ARTEMIS-2) around the lunar Lagrange Points L1 and L2.As with the ARTEMIS Mission visual, we show the Earth, the Earth's magnetosphere, the Moon and Sun, with the direction of the Sun from the Earth indicated by the yellow arrow.In this version, the satellite trails are are constructed in a lunar-centric inertial coordinate system so the trails reveal the motion of the satellites relative to the Lagrange points in INERTIAL space (fixed with the distant stars). To see another example of how coordinate systems dramatically affect the construction of trails, see LRO in Earth Centered and Moon Centered Coordinates.In this movie, the camera starts above the Moon's orbital plane and then slowly moves towards the Moon's orbital plane to get a better sense of the motion in 3-D space. For a different perspective, see ARTEMIS at Lagrange: The View from Above. || ", "hits": 175 }, { "id": 3740, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3740/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2010-07-08T00:00:00-04:00", "title": "Space Weather Event: The View from L1", "description": "We start from a position 'behind' the Earth, looking towards the Sun. From this position we see the orbit of the Moon as well as three of the heliospheric 'sentinels' (see \"Sentinels of the Heliosphere\"), ACE, SOHO, and Wind patrolling along 'halo orbits' (Wikipedia) around the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point, L1.The CME (orange isosurface) erupts, heading towards the Earth. The density enhancement of the CME is visible in slice of data in the Earth's orbit plane which provides a better sense of when the CME actually reaches the Earth.As the particle density enhancement from the CME strikes the Earth, we see the Earth's magnetosphere respond, with the outer, high density surface (red), 'blown away'. This surface location corresponds roughly to the location of the bow shock. The bow shock has not been eliminated, only some of its particles have been depleted, to be carried off in the CME and solar wind. As the densest material of the CME passes (orange surface), plasma from the CME continues to flow by the Earth, stretching the magnetosphere into a long, thin structure behind the Earth.The magnetosphere slowly recovers from the 'impact', and regions that can confine higher particle densities reform - the red surfaces return. But not for long as the rarefaction behind the CME reaches the Earth. This lower density region provides fewer particles to repopulate the magnetosphere and make it easier for particles confined in the magnetosphere to 'leak' out into the solar wind.For the BATS-R-US model, the isosurface colors are: red=20 AMUs per cubic centimeter, yellow=10.0 AMUs per cubic centimeter, light blue=1.0 AMUs per cubic centimeter, and blue=0.1 AMUs per cubic centimeter. An AMU corresponds to about the mass of a hydrogen atom, the dominant component of the solar wind.This visualization is part of a series of visualizations on space weather modeling. || ", "hits": 32 }, { "id": 3743, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3743/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2010-07-08T00:00:00-04:00", "title": "Space Weather Event: Close-up on the Earth Environment", "description": "We open with a view from high above the ecliptic plane, at the space between the Sun (left) and the Earth (within the small rectangular box on the right). In the plane of the Earth's orbit, we show a 'slice' of the Enlil model showing the particle density profile of the solar wind (white to yellow for decreasing particle density). The spiral 'rotating water sprinkler' pattern in the density is the Parker spiral (Wikipedia). We zoom down to the Earth as the CME (orange surface) erupts in the direction of the Earth and move into a position above the Earth's orbital plane with the Earth (geospace) environment in view.As the particle density enhancement from the CME strikes the Earth, we see the Earth's magnetosphere respond, with the outer, high density surface (red) 'blown away'. This surface location corresponds roughly to the location of the bow shock. The bow shock has not been eliminated, only some of its particles have been depleted, to be carried off in the CME and solar wind. As the densest material of the CME passes (orange surface), plasma from the CME continues to flow by the Earth, stretching the magnetosphere into a long, thin structure behind the Earth.The magnetosphere slowly recovers from the 'impact', and regions that can confine higher particle densities reform - the red surfaces return. But not for long as the rarefaction (Wikipedia) behind the CME reaches the Earth. This lower density region provides fewer particles to repopulate the magnetosphere and makes it easier for particles confined in the magnetosphere to 'leak' out into the solar wind.For the BATS-R-US model, the isosurface colors are: red=20 AMUs per cubic centimeter, yellow=10.0 AMUs per cubic centimeter, light blue=1.0 AMUs per cubic centimeter, and blue=0.1 AMUs per cubic centimeter. An AMU corresponds to about the mass of a hydrogen atom, the dominant component of the solar wind.This visualization is part of a series of visualizations on space weather modeling. || ", "hits": 36 }, { "id": 3739, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3739/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2010-07-06T00:00:00-04:00", "title": "Space Weather Event: Incoming View", "description": "We open with a view from high above the ecliptic plane, at the space between the Sun (left) and the Earth (within the small rectangular box on the right). In the plane of the Earth's orbit, we show a 'slice' of the Enlil model showing the particle density profile of the solar wind (white to yellow for decreasing particle density). The spiral 'rotating water sprinkler' pattern in the density is the Parker spiral (Wikipedia). The nested grid pattern centered on the Earth, provides a sense of scale to the scene. The smallest grid square in the opening view is 1,000 Earth radii on each side. The scale changes by a factor of ten for each step larger or smaller in size.We zoom down to the Earth as the CME (orange surface) erupts in the direction of the Earth, then move into a position behind the Earth with the Sun visible in the distance.As the particle density enhancement from the CME strikes the Earth, we see the Earth's magnetosphere respond, with the outer, high density surface (red) 'blown away'. This surface location corresponds roughly to the location of the bow shock. The bow shock has not been eliminated, only some of its particles have been depleted, to be carried off in the CME and solar wind. As the densest material of the CME passes (orange surface), plasma from the CME continues to flow by the Earth, stretching the magnetosphere into a long, thin structure behind the Earth.The magnetosphere slowly recovers from the 'impact', and regions that can confine higher particle densities reform - the red surfaces return. But not for long as the rarefaction (Wikipedia) behind the CME reaches the Earth. This lower density region provides fewer particles to repopulate the magnetosphere and makes it easier for particles confined in the magnetosphere to 'leak' out into the solar wind.For the BATS-R-US model, the isosurface colors correpond to densities of: red=20 AMUs per cubic centimeter, yellow=10.0 AMUs per cubic centimeter, light blue=1.0 AMUs per cubic centimeter, and blue=0.1 AMUs per cubic centimeter. An AMU corresponds to about the mass of a hydrogen atom, so the value roughly corresponds to the number of atoms per cubic centimeter.This visualization is part of a series of visualizations on space weather modeling. || ", "hits": 52 }, { "id": 3595, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3595/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2009-07-27T00:00:00-04:00", "title": "Sentinels of the Heliosphere", "description": "Heliophysics is a term to describe the study of the Sun, its atmosphere or the heliosphere, and the planets within it as a system. As a result, it encompasses the study of planetary atmospheres and their magnetic environment, or magnetospheres. These environments are important in the study of space weather.As a society dependent on technology, both in everyday life, and as part of our economic growth, space weather becomes increasingly important. Changes in space weather, either by solar events or geomagnetic events, can disrupt and even damage power grids and satellite communications. Space weather events can also generate x-rays and gamma-rays, as well as particle radiations, that can jeopardize the lives of astronauts living and working in space.This visualization tours the regions of near-Earth orbit; the Earth's magnetosphere, sometimes called geospace; the region between the Earth and the Sun; and finally out beyond Pluto, where Voyager 1 and 2 are exploring the boundary between the Sun and the rest of our Milky Way galaxy. Along the way, we see these regions patrolled by a fleet of satellites that make up NASA's Heliophysics Observatory Telescopes. Many of these spacecraft do not take images in the conventional sense but record fields, particle energies and fluxes in situ. Many of these missions are operated in conjunction with international partners, such as the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA).The Earth and distances are to scale. Larger objects are used to represent the satellites and other planets for clarity.Here are the spacecraft featured in this movie:Near-Earth Fleet:Hinode: Observes the Sun in multiple wavelengths up to x-rays. SVS pageRHESSI : Observes the Sun in x-rays and gamma-rays. SVS pageTRACE: Observes the Sun in visible and ultraviolet wavelengths. SVS pageTIMED: Studies the upper layers (40-110 miles up) of the Earth's atmosphere.FAST: Measures particles and fields in regions where aurora form.CINDI: Measures interactions of neutral and charged particles in the ionosphere. AIM: Images and measures noctilucent clouds. SVS pageGeospace Fleet:Geotail: Conducts measurements of electrons and ions in the Earth's magnetotail. Cluster: This is a group of four satellites which fly in formation to measure how particles and fields in the magnetosphere vary in space and time. SVS pageTHEMIS: This is a fleet of five satellites to study how magnetospheric instabilities produce substorms. SVS pageL1 Fleet: The L1 point is a Lagrange Point, a point between the Earth and the Sun where the gravitational pull is approximately equal. Spacecraft can orbit this location for continuous coverage of the Sun.SOHO: Studies the Sun with cameras and a multitude of other instruments. SVS pageACE: Measures the composition and characteristics of the solar wind. Wind: Measures particle flows and fields in the solar wind. Heliospheric FleetSTEREO-A and B: These two satellites observe the Sun, with imagers and particle detectors, off the Earth-Sun line, providing a 3-D view of solar activity. SVS pageHeliopause FleetVoyager 1 and 2: These spacecraft conducted the original 'Planetary Grand Tour' of the solar system in the 1970s and 1980s. They have now travelled further than any human-built spacecraft and are still returning measurements of the interplanetary medium. SVS pageThis enhanced, narrated visualization was shown at the SIGGRAPH 2009 Computer Animation Festival in New Orleans, LA in August 2009; an eariler version created for AGU was called NASA's Heliophysics Observatories Study the Sun and Geospace. || ", "hits": 97 }, { "id": 3495, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3495/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2009-07-26T00:00:00-04:00", "title": "Heliophysics Great Observatory (Phase-1)", "description": "This visualization was an early piece of a larger, more complete visualization.To see the completed visualization please go HERE.This visualization shows many of the spacecraft in NASA's heliophysics great observatory fleet. The heliophysics fleet explores various aspects of the helipsphere including Earth's magnetosphere. To do this requires many spacecraft sampling data at many different places — close to the Earth, between the Earth and the Sun, and far away from the Earth.Phase-1 of this visualziation shows the orbits of spacecraft around the date when the Stereo spacecraft received lunar assists to get into solar orbit. This phase focuses on near-Earth orbiters and L1 orbiters. || ", "hits": 17 }, { "id": 3591, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3591/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2009-04-09T00:00:00-04:00", "title": "STEREO Visits the Lagrange Points - L4 and L5", "description": "The two STEREO spacecraft orbit the Sun in orbits slightly different from the Earth. STEREO A orbits between the Earth and the Sun, while STEREO-B orbits beyond the Earth and the Sun. As a result, relative to the Earth, STEREO-A appears to move ahead of the Earth, while STEREO-B falls behind the Earth, in their motion around the Sun.In this configuration, the two spacecraft are now passing near the two stable Lagrange Points, L4 and L5, of the Earth-Sun system. The STEREO spacecraft are imaging these regions in the hopes of finding material that might have been left over from the original formation of the Solar System.Revision Note: April 15, 2009:It was pointed out that L4 and L5 were reversed in the initial release of this visualization. These animations and stills were revised to reflect the corrections. We apologize for any inconvenience. || ", "hits": 174 }, { "id": 3569, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3569/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2008-12-16T00:00:00-05:00", "title": "THEMIS Dayside Science - Sampling the Bow Shock", "description": "In the early part of the mission, the five THEMIS satellites follow the same orbit single-file. The apogee of the orbit takes the spacecraft just beyond the bow shock of Earth's magnetosphere. This enables the closely spaced satellites to measure the thickness of the different regions that they encounter. || ", "hits": 32 }, { "id": 3570, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3570/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2008-12-15T00:00:00-05:00", "title": "NASA's Heliophysics Observatories Study the Sun and Geospace", "description": "Heliophysics is a term to describe the study of the Sun, its atmosphere or the heliosphere, and the planets within it as a system. As a result, it encompasses the study of planetary atmospheres and their magnetic environment, or magnetospheres. These environments are important in the study of space weather.As a society dependent on technology, both in everyday life, and as part of our economic growth, space weather becomes increasingly important. Changes in space weather, either by solar events or geomagnetic events, can disrupt and even damage power grids and satellite communications. Space weather events can also generate x-rays and gamma-rays, as well as particle radiations, that can jeopardize the lives of astronauts living and working in space.This visualization tours the regions of near-Earth orbit; the Earth's magnetosphere, sometimes called geospace; the region between the Earth and the Sun; and finally out beyond Pluto, where Voyager 1 and 2 are exploring the boundary between the Sun and the rest of our Milky Way galaxy. Along the way, we see these regions patrolled by a fleet of satellites that make up NASA's Heliophysics Observatory Telescopes. Many of these spacecraft do not take images in the conventional sense but record fields, particle energies and fluxes in situ. Many of these missions are operated in conjunction with international partners, such as the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA).The Earth and distances are to scale. Larger objects are used to represent the satellites and other planets for clarity.Here are the spacecraft featured in this movie:Near-Earth Fleet:Hinode: Observes the Sun in multiple wavelengths up to x-rays. SVS pageRHESSI : Observes the Sun in x-rays and gamma-rays. SVS pageTRACE: Observes the Sun in visible and ultraviolet wavelengths. SVS pageTIMED: Studies the upper layers (40-110 miles up) of the Earth's atmosphere.FAST: Measures particles and fields in regions where aurora form.CINDI: Measures interactions of neutral and charged particles in the ionosphere. AIM: Images and measures noctilucent clouds. SVS pageGeospace Fleet:Geotail: Conducts measurements of electrons and ions in the Earth's magnetotail. Cluster: This is a group of four satellites which fly in formation to measure how particles and fields in the magnetosphere vary in space and time. SVS pageTHEMIS: This is a fleet of five satellites to study how magnetospheric instabilities produce substorms. SVS pageL1 Fleet: The L1 point is a Lagrange Point between the Sun and the Earth. Spacecraft can orbit this location for continuous coverage of the Sun.SOHO: Studies the Sun with cameras and a multitude of other instruments. SVS pageACE: Measures the composition and characteristics of the solar wind. Wind: Measures particle flows and fields in the solar wind. Heliospheric FleetSTEREO-A and B: These two satellites observe the Sun, with imagers and particle detectors, off the Earth-Sun line, providing a 3-D view of solar activity. SVS pageHeliopause FleetVoyager 1 and 2: These spacecraft conducted the original 'Planetary Grand Tour' of the solar system in the 1970s and 1980s. They have now travelled further than any human-built spacecraft and are still returning measurements of the interplanetary medium. SVS pageA refined and narrated version of this visualization, Sentinels of the Heliosphere, is now available. || ", "hits": 86 }, { "id": 3514, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3514/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2008-10-03T00:00:00-04:00", "title": "IBEX Orbit Visualization", "description": "The Interstellar Boundary EXplorer (IBEX) mission will observe the boundary between the heliosphere and the interstellar medium from a location near the Earth. The mission will measure the flux of hydrogen Energetic Neutral Atoms (ENAs) which can be directed towards the Sun by an interaction with the heliosheath. In this visualization, we see the orbit of the spacecraft orbit (green) in relation to the Earth, the orbit of the Moon (gray), and Sun. For more information, visit the IBEX Mission Project Page at Southwest Research Institute which is managing the mission. We also have additional video outlining the mission (link). || ", "hits": 39 }, { "id": 3478, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3478/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2007-12-11T00:00:00-05:00", "title": "THEMIS Explores the Earth's Bow Shock", "description": "The solar wind's first contact with the Earth's magnetic field creates a region known as the bow shock, much like the bow wave of a boat moving through the water. This region can also create additional turbulence which generates bursts of explosion-like currents. In this visualization, the orbits of the THEMIS fleet are combined with a 2-D slice from a hybrid magnetosphere simulation which illustrates these turbulent regions in the bow shock. This hybrid magnetosphere simulation treats the slow-moving ions by particle-in-cell computational methods and the faster electrons as a massless fluid. These simulations more accurately represent the magnetospheric physics, enabling a view of turbulent non-linear processes not visible in the simpler magnetohydrodynamic models. In this simulation, the color table is somewhat unusual. In order of increasing density, the colors run from white through violet, blue, green to black. || ", "hits": 80 }, { "id": 3485, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3485/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2007-12-10T00:00:00-05:00", "title": "THEMIS and the March 2007 Substorm", "description": "NASA's Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) mission observed the dynamics of a rapidly developing substorm in March of 2007. This visualization combines the orbits of the THEMIS satellites with a magnetohydrodynamical simulation of the Earth's magnetosphere corresponding to this time. || ", "hits": 37 }, { "id": 3364, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3364/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2007-02-07T00:00:00-05:00", "title": "STEREO's Routes to Solar Orbits", "description": "The two STEREO spacecraft, A (red path) and B (yellow path), are launched from the Earth into a highly eccentric orbit with an apogee that reaches the orbit of the Moon. Once in this orbit, the trajectories are adjusted so they can receive gravity-assists from the Moon. The gravity assist will send them both into heliocentric orbits, one spacecraft ahead of the Earth and the other behind the Earth.This trajectory was generated using a spacecraft ephemeris generated shortly after launch. || ", "hits": 104 }, { "id": 3391, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3391/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2006-12-14T00:00:00-05:00", "title": "THEMIS Orbits: Dayside Science Configuration", "description": "In the early part of the mission, the five THEMIS satellites will follow the same orbit single-file. The apogee of the orbit will take the spacecraft just beyond the bow shock of the Earth's magnetosphere. This will enable the satellites to collect data in this region over a short range of time so that the time history can be studied. The dates in this visualization are based on an ephemeris assuming a launch on January 20, 2007. The satellite colors are: red=P1, green=P2, cyan=P3, blue=P4, magenta=P5. || ", "hits": 33 }, { "id": 3392, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3392/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2006-12-14T00:00:00-05:00", "title": "THEMIS Orbits: Nightside Science Configuration", "description": "In the latter phase of the mission, the five THEMIS spacecraft will travel on five co-aligned elliptical orbits with their apogee on the nightside of the Earth. From there, they will sample the particle and electromagnetic wave environment along the magnetotail. The dates in this visualization are based on an ephemeris assuming a launch date of January 20, 2007. The five satellites are represented by colors: red=P1, green=P2, cyan=P3, blue=P4, magenta=P5 || ", "hits": 19 }, { "id": 3394, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3394/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2006-12-14T00:00:00-05:00", "title": "THEMIS Orbits: Transitions", "description": "Between the dayside and nightside phases of the mission, the five spacecraft will conduct orbit change maneuvers over a period of three months. During this visualization, the camera position is locked in GSE coordinates, keeping the Sun to the left. The orbital axis is actually fixed in space but appears to move due to the Earth's motion around the Sun. The dates in this visualization are based on an ephemeris assuming a launch on January 20, 2007. The satellites are represented by the colors: red=P1, green=P2, cyan=P3, blue=P4, magenta=P5. || ", "hits": 67 }, { "id": 3356, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3356/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2006-05-22T00:00:00-04:00", "title": "THEMIS Mission and Substorm Simulation", "description": "This visualization combines simulations of the THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) mission orbits with a GGCM (Geospace General Circulation Model) simulation. It illustrates how the five THEMIS satellites will work together to detect substorm events in the magnetosphere. One goal of the THEMIS mission is to test how these substorm events are related to the formation of the aurora.This mission consists of five identical spacecraft (usually designated P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5) with orbits aligned so they reach their apogee along the same line from the Earth. This alignment remains fixed in space so as the Earth moves around the Sun, the constellation of spacecraft will extend on the nightside of the Earth in winter to sample the Earth's magnetosphere, and on the dayside of the Earth in summer to sample the incoming solar wind. This way they can better map the geospace environment.Probes P1 and P2 are called the 'outer probes' and P3, 4, and 5 are the 'inner probes'. P3 and P4 share the same orbit. The outer probes will detect the onset of the substorm, while the inner probes will monitor the Earthward plasma flows from the event.For more information on the GGCM model, visit the Community Coordinated Modeling Center and OpenGGCM. || ", "hits": 25 }, { "id": 3115, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3115/", "result_type": "Visualization", "release_date": "2005-03-08T12:00:00-05:00", "title": "Gaps in the Earth's Radiation Belts", "description": "The Earth's radiation belts (violet & white) change considerably due to a number of influences, ranging from a changing solar wind to the lightning on the Earth. Here we see a range of variation in the electron flux in early December 2003. White indicates higher electron flux than violet. The gray curves represent the lines of the Earth's magnetic field. These radiation belts are constructed on a per-orbit basis with data from SAMPEX. || ", "hits": 103 } ] }