MESSENGER Ephemeris: Heliocentric Trajectories in HG, HGI, and SE Coordinates

Heliocentric trajectory data for the MESSENGER spacecraft, calculated using the 'Mean of Date' method for the Equinox Epoch. The original data are sourced from NASA JPL's Horizons system, which provides ephemeris for many celestial objects. This dataset was last updated by NASA on March 13, 2026.

Use Cases

• Modeling spacecraft heliocentric trajectories based on coordinates mentioned in the description
• Analyzing solar system dynamics using the 'Mean of Date' Equinox Epoch method
• Comparing coordinate systems (HG, HGI, SE) for astronomical calculations
• Using planet orbital data as a proxy for spacecraft ephemeris on a heliospheric scale

Strengths

• Data sourced from NASA JPL's authoritative Horizons system
• Coordinates calculated using the 'Mean of Date' Equinox Epoch method
• Trajectory differences on a heliospheric scale are described as very small (e.g., 0.25° longitude difference)

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Calculated from original trajectory data taken from NASA JPL's Horizons system.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 09:21:52.510479