ESA Science & Technology - Cluster - A microscope and a telescope for studying space plasmas

Publication date: 15 February 2005

Authors: Harri Laakso et al.

Journal: ESA Bulletin
Volume: 121
Page: 11-17
Year: 2005

Copyright: ESA

The four-satellite Cluster mission serves as both a 'Microscope' and a 'telescope' for magnetospheric scientists. Using its suite of state-of-the-art instruments, it is providing a close-up view of complex smallscale physical processes occurring around the Earth. These processes are often reflections of other, sometimes violent processes that are taking place much further away from our spacecraft, which means that Cluster also serves as a 'telescope' for observing those more distant processes.