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Science 29 December 1967:
Vol. 158. no. 3809, pp. 1669 - 1673
DOI: 10.1126/science.158.3809.1669
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Articles

Mariner V: Plasma and Magnetic Fields Observed near Venus

H. S. Bridge 1, A. J. Lazarus 1, C. W. Snyder 2, E. J. Smith 2, L. Davis Jr. 3, P. J. Coleman Jr. 4, and D. E. Jones 5

1 Department of Physics and Laboratory for Nuclear Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
2 Space Sciences Division, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
3 Department of Physics, California Institute of Technology
4 Department of Planetary and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles
5 Department of Physics, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah

Abrupt changes in the amplitude of the magnetic fluctuations, in the field strength, and in the plasma properties, were observed with Mariner V near Venus. They provide clear evidence for the presence of a bow shock around the planet, similar to, but much smaller than, that observed at Earth. The observations appear consistent with an interaction of the solar wind with the ionosphere of Venus. No planetary field could be detected, but a steady radial field and very low plasma density were found 10,000 to 20,000 kilometers behind Venus and 8,000 to 12,000 kilometers from the Sun-Venus line. These observations may be interpreted as relating to an expansion wave tending to fill the cavity produced by Venus in the solar wind. The upper limit to the magnetic dipole moment of Venus is estimated to be within a factor of 2 of 10-3 items that of Earth.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Initial Pioneer Venus Magnetic Field Results: Nightside Observations.
C. T. RUSSELL, R. C. ELPHIC, and J. A. SLAVIN (1979)
Science 205, 114-116
   Abstract »    PDF »
Initial Pioneer Venus Magnetic Field Results: Dayside Observations.
C. T. RUSSELL, R. C. ELPHIC, and J. A. SLAVIN (1979)
Science 203, 745-748
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Observations at Venus Encounter by the Plasma Science Experiment on Mariner 10.
H. S. Bridge, H. S. Bridge, A. J. Lazarus, J. D. Scudder, K. W. Ogilvie, R. E. Hartle, J. R. Asbridge, S. J. Bame, W. C. Feldman, and G. L. Siscoe (1974)
Science 183, 1293-1296
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Magnetic Field Observations near Venus: Preliminary Results from Mariner 10.
N. F. Ness, N. F. Ness, K. W. Behannon, R. P. Lepping, Y. C. Whang, and K. H. Schatten (1974)
Science 183, 1301-1306
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Search by Mariner 10 for Electrons and Protons Accelerated in Association with Venus.
J. A. Simpson, J. A. Simpson, J. H. Eraker, J. E. Lamport, and P. H. Walpole (1974)
Science 183, 1318-1321
   Abstract »    PDF »
Venus: The Next Phase of Planetary Exploration.
D. M. Hunten, D. M. Hunten, and R. M. Goody (1969)
Science 165, 1317-1323
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The Planet Venus: Information received from Mariner V and Venera 4 is compared.
R. Jastrow and R. Jastrow (1968)
Science 160, 1403-1410
   PDF »
Mariner V Flight Past Venus.
C. W. Snyder and C. W. Snyder (1967)
Science 158, 1665-1669
   Abstract »    PDF »
Venus: An Upper Limit on Intrinsic Magnetic Dipole Moment Based on Absence of a Radiation Belt.
J. A. Vanallen, J. A. Van Allen, S. M. Krimgis, L. A. Frank, and T. P. Armstrong (1967)
Science 158, 1673-1675
   Abstract »    PDF »
Venus: Ionosphere and Atmosphere as Measured by Dual-Frequency Radio Occultation of Mariner V.
Mariner Stanford Group (1967)
Science 158, 1678-1683
   Abstract »    PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)