Pioneer Venus Orbiter: Hourly Magnetic Field and Plasma Data in RTN Coordinates

Hourly resolution magnetic field vectors and plasma flow direction angles are provided in RTN coordinates. Spacecraft position data are given in Heliographic inertial (HGI) coordinates. This merged data set was created at NSSDC for COHOWeb by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Use Cases

• Modeling solar wind interaction with Venus based on magnetic field and plasma flow data.
• Analyzing plasma flow direction patterns based on RTN coordinate angles.
• Correlating spacecraft position in HGI coordinates with observed magnetic field vectors.
• Studying temporal variations in the near-Venus space environment based on hourly resolution data.

Strengths

• Data is merged from magnetic field and plasma instruments, providing a unified view.
• Coordinates are explicitly defined as RTN and HGI, aiding in spatial analysis.
• Hourly temporal resolution allows for tracking of dynamic processes.

Limitations

• Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Created at NSSDC for COHOWeb.

Time Range

Hourly resolution.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 07:50:27.596276; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Spacecraft position near Venus.