Whole Heliosphere Interval: Overview of JD16

Highlights of Astronomy 15, 471−478, 2010
XXVII^th IAU General Assembly, August 2009

Whole Heliosphere Interval: Overview of JD16

D.F. Webb
ISR, Boston College, Inst. for Scientiﬁc Research, Chestnut Hill, MA
Air Force Research Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA

S.E. Gibson
HAO/NCAR, Boulder, CO

B.J. Thompson
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD

Abstract

The Whole Heliosphere Interval is an international observing and modeling effort to characterize the three-dimensional interconnected solar-heliospheric-planetary system, i.e., the “heliophysical” system. WHI was part of the International Heliophysical Year, on the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year, and beneﬁted from hundreds of observatories and instruments participating in IHY activities. WHI describes the 3-D heliosphere originating from solar Carrington Rotation 2068, March 20–April 16, 2008. The focus of IAU JD16 was on analyses of observations obtained during WHI, and simulations and modeling involving those data and that period. Consideration of the WHI interval in the context of surrounding solar rotations and/or compared to last solar minimum was also encouraged. Our goal was to identify connections and commonalities between the various regions of the heliosphere.