IMP-8

Interplanetary Monitoring Platform-8

past Mission

Type

Orbiter

Launch

Oct. 26, 1973

Target

Space Environment

Objective

Study the boundary between Earth’s magnetic environment and interplanetary space

IMP-8 studied the boundary between Earth’s magnetic environment and interplanetary space, along with the radiation – both from the Sun and from outside the solar system – that passes between the two.

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The image is divided horizontally by an undulating line between a cloudscape forming a nebula along the bottom portion and a comparatively clear upper portion. Speckled across both portions is a starfield, showing innumerable stars of many sizes. The smallest of these are small, distant, and faint points of light. The largest of these appear larger, closer, brighter, and more fully resolved with 8-point diffraction spikes. The upper portion of the image is blueish, and has wispy translucent cloud-like streaks rising from the nebula below. The orangish cloudy formation in the bottom half varies in density and ranges from translucent to opaque. The stars vary in color, the majority of which have a blue or orange hue. The cloud-like structure of the nebula contains ridges, peaks, and valleys – an appearance very similar to a mountain range. Three long diffraction spikes from the top right edge of the image suggest the presence of a large star just out of view.

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