EUV imaging of near-Venus space

Japan’s Venus Climate Orbiter (the Planet-C spacecraft) will be launched in 2008 and will reach an orbit in the ecliptic plane around Venus in 2009. We propose two eXtreme UltraViolet (XUV) imagers to take global two-dimensional snapshots of near-Venus space, including the Venus ionosphere and the interaction region between the solar wind plasma and the Venus ionospheric plasma. The imagers detect the resonantly scattering emissions of oxygen ions (O II 83.4 nm) and atoms (O I 130.3 nm), neutral helium (He I 58.4 nm), and hydrogen (H Ly-α 121.6 nm). Scientific goals are to investigate mechanisms of momentum and mass transfer across the ionopause, of convection in the upper atmosphere and ionosphere, and of atmospheric escape. Especially, we emphasize that sequential images of the O II 83.4-nm emission will enable us to understand temporal evolution of the vortex produced by the Kelvin–Helmholtz (K–H) instability. Though the wave structure due to the K–H instability is generated also at the terrestrial magnetopause, oxygen ions are too tenuous to detect the emission. On the other hand, at the Venus ionopause oxygen ions have enough density to image the resonance emission, i.e., the Venus ionosphere plays a role as a space laboratory for plasma physics.     

金星火山与气候探测任务

金星火山和气候探测任务（Venus Volcano Imaging and Climate Explorer,VOICE）聚焦金星火山与热演化历史、水与板块运动、内部结构和动力学、气候演化和生命信息探索等重大科学问题,提出采用极化合成孔径雷达（Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar,PolSAR） 、下视与临边结合的微波辐射探测仪（Microwave Radiometric Sounder,MWRS）和紫外–可见–近红外多光谱成像仪（Ultraviolet-Visible-Near Infrared Multispectral Imager,UVN-MSI）等三个先进的有效载荷,在350 km圆轨道上对金星全球表面和大气联合探测。 PolSAR将对金星全球表面进行高分辨多极化雷达成像;MWRS将对金星全球云下大气的热力结构和化学组成,云中可能的宜居环境及与生命相关大气成分进行探测;UVN-MSI则实现大气全貌成像、表面光谱成像和闪电检测。通过多种先进探测载荷和技术手段的结合,VOICE任务将揭示金星构造热演化历史和超温室效应机理,探索其宜居性和生命信息。VOICE任务的实施将实现国际金星研究探索中许多“零”的突破,为理解行星宜居性和太阳系演化提供极为关键的观测支持,对提升中国在国际深空探测与空间科学研究中的地位产生重大影响。      

A new interpretation of the historical records of observing Venus in daytime with naked eye: Focusing on the meteorological factors in the astronomical observation records

Observing Venus during the daytime is challenging. However, observational data of Venus during the daytime can be found in history books from East Asian countries such as Korea, China and Japan. In this study, we are focused on data from Korean history book, and using records left in the Joseon wangjo sillok, one of the Korean history books from the Joseon dynasty (CE 1392–1910), tries to prove whether the reported observations were actual observation data. We collected these 4663 records from the Joseon wangjo sillok to determine whether they were actual observations, and to confirm the scientific validity of the records. When we looked at the distribution of observations on a yearly basis, we noticed that there were more observations in the fall and winter, while there were only limited numbers of observations in the spring. This difference in distribution suggests that observations were strongly affected by atmospheric conditions due to the weather. From the 4663 data collected, we found a cycle of about 1.6?years. The cycle of about 1.6?years is assumed to be related to the conjunction cycle of Venus. And, we found a cycle of about 1.0?years. The cycle of about 1.0?years is assumed to reflect the indirect effects of the Asian dust phenomenon. Our research result verified the record as actual observational data. In addition, this result verified that meteorological factors were involved in the recorded astronomical observation data. We think that our data can be helpful to climate studies on the natural sources of key climate-affecting aerosols.     

Development of a new cloud model for Venus (MAD-VenLA) using the Modal Aerosol Dynamics approach

For decades, clouds have remained a central open question in understanding the climate system of Venus. We have developed a new microphysical model for the clouds of Venus that we describe in this paper. The model is a modal aerosol dynamical model that treats the formation and evolution of sulfuric acid solution droplets with a moderate computational cost. To this end, the microphysical equations are derived to describe the evolution of the size distribution of the particles using the moments of the distribution. We describe the derivation of the equations and their implementation in the model. We tested each microphysical process of the model separately in conditions of the Venus’ atmosphere and show that the model behaves in a physically sound manner in the tested cases. The model will be coupled in the future with a Venus Global Climate Model and used for elucidating the remaining mysteries.     

Analysis of NASA’s DSN Venus Express radio occultation data for year 2014

The Venus Express Radio Science Experiment (VeRa) was part of the scientific payload of the Venus Express (VEX) spacecraft and was targeted at the investigation of Venus’ atmosphere, surface, and gravity field as well as the interplanetary medium. This paper describes the methods and the required calibrations applied to VEX-VeRa raw radio occultation data used to retrieve vertical profiles of Venus’ ionosphere and neutral atmosphere. In this work we perform an independent analysis of a set of 25 VEX, single-frequency (X-band), occultations carried out in 2014, recorded in open-loop at the NASA Deep Space Network. Our temperature, pressure and electron density vertical profiles are in agreement with previous studies available in the literature. Furthermore, our analysis shows that Venus’ ionosphere is more influenced by the day/night condition than the latitude variations, while the neutral atmosphere experiences the opposite. Our scientific interpretation of these results is based on two major responsible effects: Venus’ high thermal inertia and the zonal winds. Their presence within Venus’ neutral atmosphere determine why in these regions a latitude dependence is predominant on the day/night condition. On the contrary, at higher altitudes the two aforementioned effects are less important or null, and Venus’ ionosphere shows higher electron density peaks in the probed day-time occultations, regardless of the latitude.     

一种针对金星探测器的姿态指向设计

摘要： 金星探测需要超长距离低码率传输,因而金星探测器需要保持其数传天线指向地球.相对于地球轨道飞行器来说,金星探测器距离太阳更近,需要固定散热面来维持探测器内的温度.提供一种基于在金星探测器偏置安装天线的姿态指向设计,能够保证从金星向地球传输数据并且维持散热面远离太阳.而此设计旨在减少数传天线的数量至一根同时将两个固定平面作为散热面.还提供两种详细方案来控制姿态机动来保证在数传天线始终指向地球的同时在特定节点切换散热面.     

The properties of the low altitude magnetic belt in the Venus ionosphere

When the solar wind dynamic pressure is high, the Venus ionosphere usually contains a belt of steady magnetic field at the very lowest altitudes to which Pioneer Venus probes. The current layer that flows on the high altitude side of this low altitude belt is centered at an altitude which ranges from 170 to 190 km with a most probable altitude of 182 km. This altitude is independent of solar zenith angle and hence the current system is flowing horizontally rather than vertically as proposed by Cloutier and co-workers. The lower edge of the magnetic belt was probed only on the lowest altitude passes of Pioneer Venus. This boundary is even more stable in location. The belt has decayed to 90% of its maximum strength usually by 162 km and to 50% of its maximum strength by 155 km. We interpret these data to indicate that the observed magnetic structure of the Venus ionosphere is a product of temporal evolution rather than of spacecraft motion through a spatially varying static structure.     

Empirical model of the composition of the Venus ionosphere: Repeatable characteristics and key features not modeled

In-situ measurements of positive ion composition of the ionosphere of Venus are combined in an empirical model which is a key element for the Venus International Reference Atmosphere (VIRA) model. The ion data are obtained from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter Ion Mass Spectrometer (OIMS) which obtained daily measurements beginning in December 1978 and extending to July 1980 when the uncontrolled rise of satellite periapsis height precluded further measurements in the main body of the ionosphere. For this period, measurements of 12 ion species are sorted into altitude and local time bins with altitude extending from 150 to 1000 km. The model results exhibit the appreciable nightside ionosphere found at Venus, the dominance of atomic oxygen ions in the dayside upper ionosphere and the increase in prominence of atomic oxygen and deuterium ions on the nightside. Short term variations, such as the abrupt changes observed in the ionopause, cannot be represented in the model.     

Dust environment models for comet P/Halley: Support for targeting of the GIOTTO S/C

In March 1985 ESA's GIOTTO spacecraft will fly by P/Halley's nucleus at a distance of a few hundred kilometres. The near nucleus dust environment the probe will traverse poses a hazard with respect to physical damage as well as to attitude disturbance with the possible loss of ground station contact. To predict S/C survivability and dust impact rates for the experiments, a model of the spatial distribution of the dust in the nucleus' vicinity is required. In the ‘dynamic’ model, the local spatial dust density is derived from exact expressions for the dust particle dynamic motion. The model has been implemented in a software system which allows for fast simulations of a cometary fly-by.     

Corotating interplanetary streams and associated ionospheric disturbances at Venus and Earth

During the summer of 1979, solar coronal structure was such that a sequence of recurrent regions produced a corresponding sequence of corotating solar wind streams, with pronounced downstream signatures. One of these stream events passed Earth on July 3, and was observed later at Venus late on July 11th, with similar characteristics. Corresponding in-situ measurements at Earth from the Atmospheric Explorer-E satellite and at Venus from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter are examined for evidence of comparable perturbations of the planetary ionospheres. The passage of the stream shock front is found to be associated with pronounced fluctuations in n(0⁺) which appear as pronounced local depletion of ion concentrations in both ionospheres. The ionosphere disturbances appear to be closely associated with large variations in the solar wind momentum flux. The implied local ionospheric depletions observed at each planet are interpreted to be the consequence of plasma redistribution, rather than actual depletions of plasma.     

The Venus ionosphere

Physical properties of the Venus ionosphere obtained by experiments on the US Pioneer Venus and the Soviet Venera missions are presented in the form of models suitable for inclusion in the Venus International Reference Atmosphere. The models comprise electron density (from 120 km), electron and ion temperatures, and relative ion abundance in the altitude range from 150 km to 1000 km for solar zenith angles from 0° to 180°. In addition, information on ion transport velocities, ionopause altitudes, and magnetic field characteristics of the Venus ionosphere, are presented in tabular or graphical form. Also discussed is the solar control of the physical properties of the Venus ionosphere.     

Dynamic and figure parameters of Venus and Mars

Parameters of the best-fitting tri-axial ellipsoids representing external equipotential surfaces of Venus and Mars have been determined from satellite data. The dynamic consequence of the equatorial flattening of Venus has been discussed from the point of view of the s.c. synodic resonance rotation. The major gravitational anomalies of Venus have been interpreted, space locations and magnitudes of anomalous masses determined and their contribution to the second zonal Stokes' constant in the gravitational potential computed. The conclusions were done: The figure of the aphroditoid is strange even if there is a relatively small polar flattening; an equatorial “disc” of Venus is enormous. Recent space data do not support hypothesis that the Earth controls the spin of Venus.     

Pioneer Venus observations during comet Halley''s inferior conjunction

On February 4, 1986 Halley passed through inferior conjunction with Venus but was at high latitudes. Not all data for this time period have been received. However, the data that are available suggest that at most only weak effects associated with Halley were seen at Pioneer Venus. The data during this time, however, are useful for correlating with the behavior of the plasma tail.     

Solar wind governing the response of Venusian atmosphere and ionosphere

The ionosphere of Venus is primarily formed by photoionization of a gaseous blanket around Venus. The impact ionization by energetic solar charged particles also plays an important role in the variability of Venusian ionospheric ion, electron density and their temperature profiles. The microscopic variations in the solar wind velocity, particle flux and orientations of frozen-in interplanetary magnetic field determine the solar wind interaction with the Venusian ionosphere. The ion and electron density profiles obtained by Pioneer Venus Orbiter and Pioneer Venus Entry Probes have been analysed in the light of simultaneous solar wind velocity and particle flux. Marked changes in height profiles of ion, electron densities and their temperatures have been found to correlate with the simultaneous changes in the solar wind velocity and particle flux. It is shown that the solar wind plays a more important role in controlling the physical properties and behavior of daytime as well as nighttime ionosphere of Venus, whereas the solar xuv sustains the primary ionization process.     

The Giotto mission to Halley''s comet

ESA's Giotto mission to Halley's comet is a fast flyby in March 1986, about four weeks after the comet's perihelion passage when it is most active. The scientific payload comprises 10 experiments with a total mass of about 60 kg: a camera for imaging the comet nucleus, three mass spectrometers for analysis of the elemental and isotopic composition of the cometary gas and dust environment, various dust impact detectors, a photopolarimeter for measurements of the coma brightness, and a set of plasma instruments for studies of the solar wind/comet interaction. In view of the high flyby velocity of 68 km/s the experiment active time is very short (only 4 hours) and all data are transmitted back to Earth in real time at a rate of 40 kbps. The Giotto spacecraft is spin-stabilised with a despun high gain parabolic dish antenna inclined at 44.3° to point at the Earth during the encounter while a specially designed dual-sheet bumper shield at the other end protects the spacecraft from being destroyed by hypervelocity dust impacts. The mission will probably end near the point of closest approach to the nucleus when the spacecraft attitude will be severely perturbed by impacting dust particles leading to a loss of the telecommunications link.     

Comparative atmospheric dynamics for terrestrial planets

A review is presented of theoretical ideas on the general circulations in the atmospheres of Earth, Mars and Venus and also of results of their theoretical modelling. The role of various factors is discussed in the formation of the circulations. These results are compared with observational data obtained by different means. Data of direct local measurements of meteorological parameters in the atmospheres of Venus and Mars are discussed including those obtained at their surfaces.     

Venera-15 and -16 spacecraft: Images and maps of Venus

The main purpose of the spacecraft Venera-15 and -16 was to radar map the north hemisphere of Venus. From October 1983 to July 1984, when this experiment was conducted, an area of 115 million km² was mapped. It stretches from the north pole to the latitude of 30°. The images (radar swathes) and height profiles of the whole surveyed territory were constructed.

At present mosaic maps of Venus were drawn by computer combining of individual swathes in a certain map projection. The height of the local topography was taken into consideration. Topographic maps of Venus were also drawn by interpolation of individual height profiles. They are the most detailed maps of Venus available.     

Electromagnetic waves observed by Venus Express at periapsis: Detection and analysis techniques

The magnetometer on Venus Express was designed to be able to obtain 128 Hz samples of the magnetic field from two sensors in a gradiometer configuration. This mode is used around periapsis to determine whether the signals reported at low altitudes near 100 Hz, had the properties of electromagnetic waves generated by electric discharges in the Venus atmosphere. The lack of a magnetic cleanliness program and the shortness of the magnetometer boom make this a challenging measurement. Fortunately the signals are sufficiently strong that they can be easily resolved with rather straightforward analysis techniques.     

Models of the structure of the atmosphere of Venus from the surface to 100 kilometers altitude

From a critical comparison and synthesis of data from the four Pioneer Venus Probes, the Pioneer Venus Orbiter, and the Venera 10, 12, and 13 landers, models of the lower and middle atmosphere of Venus are derived. The models are consistent with the data sets within the measurement uncertainties and established variability of the atmosphere. The models represent the observed variations of state properties with latitude, and preserve the observed static stability. The rationale and the approach used to derive the models are discussed, and the remaining uncertainties are estimated.