Cluster/Ground-Based Data Centre
Coordinated Ground-Based Observations With ESA's CLUSTER mission
To facilitate the coordination of ground-based observations with those from
Cluster, we provide three classes of information:
- Event Identification
- A classification of "interesting" conjunctions between the Cluster
satellites and an arbitrary ground-based observatory.
- Orbit and Event Predictions
- Predictions of orbits and Cluster "events". This information will
describe when the various interesting conjunctions occur.
- Planning
- Tools to enable you to describe your operating plans, and feed
information into the Cluster planning cycle.
Event Identification
In order to plan co-ordinated observations we have followed the CLUSTER Science
Plan by dividing all CLUSTER observations periods into 4 magnetic local time
(MLT) sectors, 6 hours around 0 MLT, 6 MLT, 12MLT and 18 MLT. We also consider
any one ground-based observatory simultaneously in one of the same four sectors,
making 16 combinations. For each there are a number of points along each
CLUSTER orbit for which co-ordinated observations are of special interest. We
have defined 67 such conjunctions and configurations for:
We have made an initial assessment of a full list of
potential scientific objectives
for each numbered conjunction/configuration. Please note this list is
incomplete - please send comments and corrections to the
GBDC
at RAL. Information on the potential science of each of the 67
configurations/conjunctions is available via the orbit plots (click on
relevant number).
Orbit and Event Prediction
Orbit details provided to us by the
Cluster JSOC
describes the orbit in terms of
CLUSTER "events", which are the points
when the orbit enters or crosses various magnetospheric regions.
There is now a proposed
Cluster Master Science Plan
in the form of a PostScript plot. This diagram shows the first six months of
Cluster orbits, with the proposed data-taking times. Note that these are
proposals. If you feel that there is a strong scientific case for
changing the plan, and that data-taking should happen at different times, then
you must communicate your concerns to Hermann Opgenoorth (opg@irfu.se) or Mike
Lockwood
mike@eiscat.ag.rl.ac.uk for there to be some chance of changing these
proposals.
Planning
GBDC Home
12-JAN-1996 Richard Stamper