Abstract
The magnetosphere boundary observations of the Explorer 12 satellite are described. More than seventy distinct boundary penetrations were observed in the period from August to November 1961, while the satellite orbit moved from local noon to the dawn meridian. The average boundary distance near the noon meridian in August and September of 1961 was 10·7 R e . This average distance increased beyond 13 R e near the dawn meridian in November, 1961. The approximate thickness of the boundary was observed to vary between twenty and a few hundred kilometers. Evidence of boundary motion was seen during many passes when there were multiple reversals of field direction. The boundary observations are generally consistent with the closed magnetosphere model of Chapman and Ferraro, although the boundary may, on occasion, be open in the manner suggested by Dungey.
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