Latest images from the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO - EUVI/COR1/COR2/HI1/HI2)

Downlink from STEREO Behind has been detected during the recovery track on August 21st 2016. More info | All news.

Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (or STEREO) employs two nearly identical space-based observatories. One ahead of Earth in its orbit (STEREO A), the other trailing behind (STEREO B) to provide stereoscopic measurements to study the Sun and the nature of its CMEs. Check the current STEREO positions and ground station coverage.

Beacon images

These are the latest received images from both spacecraft. They are generally of lower quality and resolution. Some factors such as Deep Space Network schedule conflicts may result in delaying the beacon images. Check below for the latest high-resolution images (these are normally delayed by up to 72 hours).

Note: Both HI1 and HI2 images are processed using two different methods. You can swap the different versions by clicking on the full-size image in the popup window.

STEREO A (Earth is to the right (post solar conjunction) in EUVI, COR1 and COR2)

EUVI 195Å COR1 COR2 HI1 STARS/HI1 CME HI2 STARS/HI2 CME

STEREO B (Earth is to the right in EUVI, COR1 and COR2)
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Latest high-resolution images

STEREO A STEREO B (no contact)

EUVI 171Å EUVI 195Å EUVI 284Å EUVI 304Å EUVI 171Å EUVI 195Å EUVI 284Å EUVI 304Å

COR1 COR1 rdiff COR2 COR2 rdiff COR1 COR1 rdiff COR2 COR2 rdiff

Stereo Behind COR1 RDIFF high resolution

Stereo Behind COR2 RDIFF high resolution

HI1 HI1 rdiff HI1 STARS HI2 STARS HI1 HI1 rdiff HI1 STARS HI2 STARS

note: The "rdiff" COR and HI images use different type of postprocessing called "running difference". It detects the difference between the current and the previous available frame, thus providing a highlight on the subtle details in the images.

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7-day composite videos (updated daily)
NOTE: Contact with STEREO-B has been lost. As a result the videos may not be updated regularly due to insufficient data.

COR1

COR2

HI1

HI2

EUVI-171

EUVI-195

EUVI-284

EUVI-304

COR1, COR2, HI1, HI2

EUVI-171, EUVI-195, EUVI-284, EUVI-304

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Visible planets

STEREO A (Earth is to the right (post solar conjunction))

Visible planets on Stereo Ahead Coronagraph 1

Visible planets on Stereo Ahead Coronagraph 2

Visible planets on Stereo Ahead Heliospheric Imager 1

Visible planets on Stereo Behind Coronagraph 1

Visible planets on Stereo Behind Coronagraph 2

Visible planets on Stereo Behind Heliospheric Imager 1

STEREO B (Earth is to the right)
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IMPACT/PLASTIC solar wind data

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Status and upcoming events:

STEREO A/B weekly status report from the Mission Operations Center: DOWNLOAD (pdf)

	    STEREO Weekly Meeting Minutes for 2017-08-15 (Week 33)

ANNOUNCEMENTS
-------------

* The Behind recovery readiness review has been rescheduled for Tuesday, August
  29, 9 AM at APL, Bldg 200.  A webex announcement has been sent out.  If
  planning to come to APL for the review, please inform Dan Ossing.


INSTRUMENT and SPACECRAFT STATUS
--------------------------------

* Ahead is operating nominally on the main lobe of the high gain antenna.

* Attempts to recover Behind have transitioned from monthly schedule to a
  weekly schedule (every 3-days).


DISCUSSION AND OPERATIONS CONSTRAINTS
-------------------------------------

Week 32 (Aug 7-13)

* On day 225 (Aug 13), during the DSS-63 support for Ahead, start of commanding
  was delayed by 1 minute at 1522z due to a communications failure with the
  uplink controller at the station.  All SSR data were received.  See DR
  #M110152 for more information.

* The average daily science data return for Ahead was 6.4 Gbits during this
  week.

* On day 219 (Aug 7), during a 3.5 hour support for Behind with DSS-63, 380
  commands were transmitted during the support.  No carrier was detected by
  either the DSN station or the radio science receiver team after attempting to
  power on the TWTA for 30 minutes.  Transitioned to battery recovery
  operations for the remainder of the support which consists of repeatedly
  sweeping a 4 kHz uplink range and sending commands for IEM switched power and
  PDU 1553 interface bus off.

* On day 221 (Aug 9), during a 3.4 hour support for Behind with DSS-43, 360
  commands were transmitted during the support.  No carrier was detected by
  either the DSN station or the radio science receiver team after attempting to
  power on the TWTA for 30 minutes.  Transitioned to battery recovery
  operations for the remainder of the support which consists of repeatedly
  sweeping a 4 kHz uplink range and sending commands for IEM switched power and
  PDU 1553 interface bus off.

* On day 224 (Aug 12), during a 4 hour support for Behind with DSS-14, command
  uplink was delayed 20 minutes to recalibrate the transmitter due to low
  transmit power.  This anomaly resulted in the loss of 2 command segments.  A
  total of 380 commands were transmitted during the support.  See DR #G118351
  for more information.  No carrier was detected by either the DSN station or
  the radio science receiver team after attempting to power on the TWTA for 30
  minutes.  Transitioned to battery recovery operations for the remainder of
  the support which consists of repeatedly sweeping a 4 kHz uplink range and
  sending commands for IEM switched power and PDU 1553 interface bus off.

Week 33 (Aug 14-20)

* Commanding was delayed by about 38 minutes during yesterday's (Aug 14) Behind
  recovery track with station 14, resulting in the loss of 3 command segments.
  A total of 259 commands were sent.  No carrier was detected.

* Turbo decoder lock was briefly lost during today's (Aug 15) track for Ahead
  with station 34, resulting in the loss of 4 telemetry frames.

* On Day 130 (Aug 18) there will be a return to service support demonstration
  track with Station DSS-24 for 2.6 hours.  No SSR playback nor instrument
  commanding, and downlinking at 160 kbits/sec.

* TDRS is scheduled for launch on Aug 18, with a 40 minute window each day.

* Ahead has 7 tracks during the week, and overall coverage is nominal.  There
  are six tracks at 720 kbps, and one at 240 kbps.

* Recovery tracks for Behind are scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday,
  Aug 14, 16, 18 (about 3.5 hours each).  The Radio Science Receiver will be
  operating during all tracks.

Week 34 (Aug 21-27)

* A total solar eclipse will be seen across the United States on Monday,
  Aug 21.  SECCHI will be taking extra coronagraph images during the eclipse.
  There is a total of 5 hours of 70 meter downlink the next day, which should
  empty the recorder.  The 18 meter dish at APL will be used to bring down
  space weather beacon data during the eclipse, along with coverage from the
  European stations during the early part of the event.

* Ahead has 9 tracks during the week, and overall coverage is nominal.  There
  are eight tracks at 720 kbps, and one at 240 kbps.

* Recovery tracks switch to a daily cadence (~4-hours 70-m time each day).
  During the first two days, will use a different frequency acquisition
  sequence (using 1 kHz steps and going down 18 steps and then back up) in case
  the transponder has drifted out of the currently used 4kHz range.  Anticipate
  using this finer frequency resolution the first two days of each week, with
  the first track being for battery recovery, and the second track being for
  carrier recovery.  Recovery tracks for Behind are scheduled (each about 3.5-4
  hours of 70-m support) for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Aug 21, 23, 25.
  The Radio Science Receiver will be operating during all tracks.

Week 35 (Aug 28-Sep 3)

* The STEREO Behind recovery review will be held at APL on Tuesday, Aug 29.
  See above for details.

* The 40th SECCHI stepped calibration roll on Ahead is scheduled for Tuesday,
  Aug 29, starting at 11:55 UT.  This is for the midpoint in the orbit.  System
  momentum is expected to be 6 N-m-s.  This will be the 9th stepped roll
  without using the gyros.

* On Wednesday, Aug 30, The DSN will be conducting a test of a conical search
  pattern of 0.048 degrees that may be used later in the year to search for the
  Behind spacecraft, if needed.

* Ahead has 8 tracks during the week, and overall coverage is nominal.  There
  are six tracks at 720 kbps, and two at 240 kbps.

* Recovery tracks for Behind are scheduled each day, with the older frequency
  acquisition sequence with the finer 1 kHz steps used on Monday and Tuesday,
  with the first track being for battery recovery, and the second track being
  for carrier recovery.

Week 36 (Sep 4-10)

* Monday, Sep 4, is Labor Day, which is an APL holiday.

* The 102nd momentum dump on Ahead is scheduled for Wednesday, Sep 6, with
  ignition at 17:30 UT.  This will be the 21st momentum dump without using the
  gyros.

* A 1.5 hour project interface test with Ahead using station 34 will be carried
  out on Thursday, Sep 7.  There will be no SSR downlink or instrument
  commanding during this pass.  The downlink rate will be 160 kbps.

* Ahead has 10 tracks during the week, and overall coverage is nominal.  There
  are seven tracks at 720 kbps, two at 240 kbps, and one at 160 kbps.

* Recovery tracks for Behind are scheduled each day, with the older frequency
  acquisition sequence with the finer 1 kHz steps used on Tuesday and
  Wednesday, with the first track being for battery recovery, and the second
  track being for carrier recovery.

Week 37 (Sep 11-17)

* Ahead has 11 tracks during the week, and overall coverage is nominal.  There
  are seven tracks at 720 kbps, three at 240 kbps, and one at 160 kbps.

* Recovery tracks for Behind are scheduled every day, with the older frequency
  acquisition sequence with the finer 1 kHz steps used on Thursday and Friday,
  with the first track being for battery recovery, and the second for carrier
  recovery.

Week 38 (Sep 18-24)

* Ahead has 8 tracks during the week, all at 720 kbps, and overall coverage is
  nominal.

* Recovery tracks for Behind are scheduled every day, with the older frequency
  acquisition sequence with the finer 1 kHz steps using on Monday and Tuesday,
  with the first track being for battery recovery, and the second for carrier
  recovery.

Week 39 (Sep 25-Oct 1)

* The current extended mission officially ends on Sep 30.

* Ahead has 10 tracks during the week, and overall coverage is nominal.  There
  are 7 tracks at 720 kbps, one at 240 kbps, and two at 160 kbps.

* Recovery tracks for Behind are scheduled every day, with the older frequency
  acquisition sequence with the finer 1 kHz steps using on Monday and Tuesday,
  with the first track being for battery recovery, and the second for carrier
  recovery.


COORDINATED OBSERVATIONS

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scheduled activities for Week 32:

M Aug 07 (219)  Behind:	Recovery track with station 63
T Aug 08 (220)  
W Aug 09 (221)  Behind: Recovery track with station 43
T Aug 10 (222)  
F Aug 11 (223)  
S Aug 12 (224)  Behind: Recovery track with station 14
S Aug 13 (225)  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scheduled activities for Week 33:

M Aug 14 (226)  Behind: Recovery track with station 14
T Aug 15 (227)  
W Aug 16 (228)  Behind: Recovery track with station 43
T Aug 17 (229)  
F Aug 18 (230)  Ahead:	Return-to-service track with station 24
		Behind: Recovery track with station 43
S Aug 19 (231)  
S Aug 20 (232)  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scheduled activities for Week 34:

M Aug 21 (233)  Begin daily Behind recovery tracks
		Solar eclipse in the United States
T Aug 22 (234)  
W Aug 23 (235)  
T Aug 24 (236)  
F Aug 25 (237)  
S Aug 26 (238)  
S Aug 27 (239)  

Note:

* The first two Behind recovery passes use the original frequency acquisition
  sequence with the finer 1 kHz resolution.  The first pass is for battery
  recovery, and the second is for carrier recovery.

* Extra SECCHI coronagraph images during the eclipse.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scheduled activities for Week 35:

M Aug 28 (240)  
T Aug 29 (241)  Ahead:	SECCHI stepped calibration roll, 11:55 UT
W Aug 30 (242)  
T Aug 31 (243)  
F Sep 01 (244)  
S Sep 02 (245)  
S Sep 03 (246)  

Notes:

* Behind recovery attempts each day.  The first two Behind recovery passes use
  the original frequency acquisition sequence with the finer 1 kHz resolution.
  The first pass is for battery recovery, and the second is for carrier
  recovery.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scheduled activities for Week 36:

M Sep 04 (247)  Labor Day
T Sep 05 (248)  
W Sep 06 (249)  Ahead:	Momentum dump, 17:30 UT
T Sep 07 (250)  
F Sep 08 (251)  
S Sep 09 (252)  
S Sep 10 (253)  

Notes:

* Behind recovery attempts each day.  The Tuesday and and Wednesday Behind
  recovery passes use the original frequency acquisition sequence with the
  finer 1 kHz resolution.  The first pass is for battery recovery, and the
  second is for carrier recovery.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scheduled activities for Week 37:

M Sep 11 (254)  
T Sep 12 (255)  
W Sep 13 (256)  
T Sep 14 (257)  
F Sep 15 (258)  
S Sep 16 (259)  
S Sep 17 (260)  

Notes:

* Behind recovery attempts each day.  The Thursday and and Friday Behind
  recovery passes use the original frequency acquisition sequence with the
  finer 1 kHz resolution.  The first pass is for battery recovery, and the
  second is for carrier recovery.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scheduled activities for Week 38:

M Sep 18 (261)  
T Sep 19 (262)  
W Sep 20 (263)  
T Sep 21 (264)  
F Sep 22 (265)  
S Sep 23 (266)  
S Sep 24 (267)  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Upcoming events:

Behind events are contingent on recovering the spacecraft.

2018:

* Mar 5			Ahead:	Mercury transit

2019:

* Mar			Ahead:	Switch downlink rate to 240 kbps for 34 meter
* Apr			Behind:	Switch downlink rate to 240 kbps for 34 meter

2020:

* May			Behind:	Switch downlink rate to 360 kbps for 34 meter
* Jun			Ahead:	Switch downlink rate to 360 kbps for 34 meter
* Jun			Behind: Switch downlink rate to 480 kbps for 34 meter
* Sep			Ahead:	Switch downlink rate to 480 kbps for 34 meter

2021:

* Jul			Behind:	Switch downlink rate to 720 kbps for 34 meter
* Aug			Ahead:	Switch downlink rate to 720 kbps for 34 meter

2022:

2023:

* May 5			Behind:	Mercury transit
* Jul 17		Behind:	Closest approach to Earth
* Aug 13		Ahead:	Closest approach to Earth

2024:

2025:

* Apr 7			Ahead:	Mercury transit

2026:

2027:

* Feb 1			Behind: Mercury transit

2028:

2029:

* Jun 30		Ahead:	Mercury transit

Courtesy of STEREO/SECCHI consortium.