A Forecast for a South Heliopause Crossing by Voyager 2 in Late 2014 Using Intensity-time Features of Energetic Particles Observed by V1 and V2 in the North and South Heliosheaths

Abstract

We have used corresponding marker features in the intensity vs. time profile of termination shock particles coming from within the heliosheath and also 5-12 MeV electrons which are coming from beyond the heliopause that are both observed at both V1 and V2 in the outer N and S heliosheaths, to estimate the thickness of the S heliosheath. These features in the N heliosheath have been observed on the CRS instrument on V1 in the N heliosheath beyond 110 AU or within 12 AU of the heliopause. Although the intensity-time features in the S heliosheath are quite different overall, certain features stand out at both V1 and V2. The correspondence of these features in the N and S heliosheath allows us to estimate that V2 will reach the S heliopause near the end of 2014.