A Heliospheric Imager for Deep Space: Lessons Learned from Helios, SMEI, and STEREO

• Published in: Solar physics Vol. 265; no. 1-2; pp. 257 - 275
• Main Authors: Jackson, B. V., Buffington, A., Hick, P. P., Bisi, M. M., Clover, J. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.08.2010; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Atmospheric Sciences; Corona; Data processing; Image processing systems; Photometers; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Plasma physics; Remote sensing; Remote Sensing of the Inner Heliosphere; Solar physics; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Spacecraft; Sun; Plasma physics; Instrumentation and data management; Solar wind disturbances; Coronal mass ejections, interplanetary
• ISSN: 0038-0938; 1573-093X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11207-010-9579-3

The zodiacal-light photometers on the twin Helios spacecraft, the Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI) on the Coriolis spacecraft, and the Heliospheric Imagers (HIs) on the Solar-TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) twin spacecraft all point the way to optimizing future remote-sensing Thomson-scattering observations from deep space. Such data could be provided by wide-angle viewing instruments on Solar Orbiter , Solar Probe , or other deep-space probes. Here, we present instrument specifications required for a successful heliospheric imager, and the measurements and data-processing steps that make the best use of this remote-sensing system. When this type of instrument is properly designed and calibrated, its data are capable of determining zodiacal-dust properties, and of three-dimensional reconstructions of heliospheric electron density over large volumes of the inner heliosphere. Such systems can measure fundamental properties of the inner heliospheric plasma, provide context for the in-situ monitors on board spacecraft, and enable physics-based analyses of this important segment of the Sun-spacecraft connection.