STEREO - STEREO Connections with Planetary Missions

Information about STEREO-A close approach to Earth, August 2023

Connections between STEREO and Planetary Missions

This page outlines some of the possible connections between the two STEREO observatories and other planetary missions. In the following graphs, the positions of the planets, STEREO Ahead and Behind, Messenger and Ulysses are plotted in 4-day increments. Also plotted is a simple model of the Parker spiral. Configurations to look for are when two spacecraft are either in conjunction or along the same magnetic field line. Also of interest is when one of the STEREO spacecraft is in quadrature with another mission, as that means that the SECCHI coronagraphs will have a good view of CME material directed toward the other mission.

Other connections can also be explored through the STEREO Orbit Tool.

General planetary missions

Separation angles, red=Ahead, blue=Behind, green=Earth (e.g. SOHO). The dashed lines represent times when the observatories are either in quadrature (close to 90 degrees) or in conjunction (close to zero degrees).
Illustration of 3D separation angle definition
Behind magnetically connected to Mars, Ahead in quadrature, April 2008
Behind magnetically connected to Venus, Ahead in quadrature, January 2009

Messenger

Ulysses

Separation angle, red=Ahead, blue=Behind, green=Earth.
South pole passage, March 2007
Ecliptic plane passage, 19 August 2007
North pole passage, February 2008

Dawn

Mars flyby, 17 February 2009

Last Revised: Tuesday, 20-Nov-2012 15:58:13 UTC
Responsible NASA Official: [email address: Therese.A.Kucera<at>nasa<dot>gov]
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