In-situ Measurements of Particles and CME Transients (IMPACT) - a suite of seven instruments that will sample the 3-D distribution of solar wind plasma electrons, the characteristics of the solar energetic particle (SEP) ions and electrons, and the local vector magnetic field. IMPACT will be one of the STEREO mission's four measurement packages whose principal objective is to understand the origin and consequences of coronal mass ejections (CME's). CME's are the most energetic eruptions on the Sun. They are responsible for essentially all of the largest solar geomagnetic storms. In order to understand and forecast CME's, we need 3-Dimensional images of them and of the ambient solar corona and heliosphere. Achieving this perspective will require moving away from our customary Earth-bound lookout point. To provide the images for a stereo reconstruction of solar eruptions, one spacecraft will lead Earth and one will be lagging in its orbit about the Sun. Launch is scheduled for July 22nd to August 6th.

-566 days since launch

STEREO - IMPACT 2004 Flyer
print version (4.89 MB, .pdf)
web version (1.14 MB, .pdf)

STEREO Booklet (3.05 MB, .pdf) NASA has produced the following booklet
about the STEREO mission, including the IMPACT instrument suite.

Sounds of Space Hear observations of the Sun and Sun-Earth connection converted into sounds! Note: The level of this page is high. Tutorials and lessons will be added to it over time to make it more accessible to a wider audience.

STEREO Mission's Involvement in Eclipse 2001

Space Weather: Physics and Forecasts An article by Dr. Janet Luhmann featured as a cover page article in Physics World (http://physicsweb.org/toc), July 2000. The article explains what space scientists are learning about the phenomena underlying magnetic storms.

Articles about Stereo

STEREO education and public outraach effort (3.43 MB, .mov)

STEREO education and publuc outreach in Europe (2.99 MB, .mov)

Why is STEREO important to the general public? (5.04 MB, .mov)

What will IMPACT do? (1.62 MB, .mov)	IMPACT and PLASTIC (1.69 MB, .mov)	STEREO and RHESSI compliment each other (1.55 MB, .mov)
CMEs vs. solar flares (5.04 MB, .mov)	Solar energetic particle events (5.91 MB, .mov)	Getting a 3D perspective (2.47 MB, .mov)
STEREO makes the Sun accessable (3.13 MB, .mov)	Living with a dynamic star (3.02 MB, .mov)