Pioneer 10 Crosses the Asteroid Belt (Illustration)

Images

Monday, 04 December 2023

If spacecraft are to visit the outer Solar System, they must cross the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The Pioneer mission was faced with the question of just how dangerous this asteroid belt would be to a spacecraft passing through it.

Image Credit: NASA

Planetary Positions

27.11.2024 at 03:57:18 UTC

Planet	Longitude
The Sun	05 Sag 23' 38"
The Moon	19 Lib 56' 08"
Mercury	22 Sag 34' 47" R
Venus	18 Cap 13' 53"
Mars	05 Leo 32' 52"
Jupiter	17 Gem 41' 49" R
Saturn	12 Pis 48' 37"
Uranus	24 Tau 49' 30" R
Neptune	27 Pis 09' 52" R
Pluto	00 Aqu 08' 33"

Solar Status

BZ Status:	3
Proton Density:	3.26
Proton Speed:	358.4 k/sec
KP Status:	1.00

Type	Nov 27	Nov 28	Nov 29
Active	10%	35%	20%
Minor	5%	40%	20%
Moderate	1%	5%	40%
Strong	1%	5%	10%
Kp Index Prediction
00-03UT	1.67	3.00	4.33
03-06UT	1.33	1.00	5.67
06-09UT	1.33	2.00	3.67
09-12UT	1.33	1.67	3.33
12-15UT	1.33	3.33	4.33
15-18UT	1.33	4.00	3.33
18-21UT	1.67	5.00	3.00
21-00UT	1.67	4.33	3.33
Solar Activity
Solar flare activity has been at low levels with only C-Class flares occurring since the start of the UTC day. Region 3906 (S16E19, Ekc/beta-gamma-delta) continues to show a complex magnetic field with a delta in its trailer. Its interior spots have consolidated towards the leader which has diminished in size. Region 3905 (S09E12, Eki/beta-gamma) has seen growth in the spot complex near the trailer where the delta comes and goes. The two aforementioned regions have been the primary flare producers over the period. The other region of note is Region 3907 (S22W24, Dao/beta-delta) which is displaying a complex trailing spot in a rather simple region. It has been inactive but the growth over a short period suggests it may not stay quiet. Region 3910 (N16E69, Dko/beta) continues to come into better view with a small leader and a large trailer, the mag field is to obscured by foreshortening to have confidence beyond a beta classification. A new region emerged starting around 26/1000 UTC and has been numbered Region 3911 (S14W33, Cro/beta). All other regions have been either stable or in decay.
Solar Wind
Solar wind parameters continue to reflect weak, negative polarity CH HSS influence. Total field was 4-7 nT with the Bz component remaining positive (north) through much of the period and remaining between +/-6 nT. Solar wind speeds averaged around 370 km/s. The phi angle remained in the negative (towards the Sun) orientation through much of the period.
Energetic Particle
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux was at normal to moderate levels. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux returned to background levels.

Pioneer 10 Crosses the Asteroid Belt (Illustration)

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