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High resolution VEGA 1 and 2 magnetic measurements in the cometary magnetosphere and magnetosheath of Halley reveal the presence of fluctuations with the signature expected for the mirror instability. This instability is a mechanism by which homogeneously produced cometary ions with a large perpendicular temperature anisotropy can be concentrated into discrete linear features. Thus, the mirror instability may provide a new mechanism for the generation of cometary rays. To our knowledge the presence of this instability in the cometary plasma was not predicted.

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The region upstream from the Mars subsolar bow shock is surveyed for the presence of MHD wave phenomena using the high temporal resolution data from the MAGMA magnetometer. Strong turbulence is observed when the magnetic field is connected to the Mars bow shock in such a way as to allow diffuse ions to reach the spacecraft. On 2 occasions this turbulence occurred upon crossing the Phobos orbit. Also weak, ∼0.15 nT, waves are observed at the proton gyro frequency. These waves are left‐hand elliptically polarized and may be associated with the pick‐up of protons from the Mars hydrogen exosphere.