Ulysses SWOOPS: Solar Wind Proton Moments from the Sun's Polar Regions, 4-min Data

NASA's Ulysses spacecraft collected solar wind proton data, including bulk speed and density, during its mission over the Sun's poles. The dataset provides 4-minute resolution hot plasma moments derived from particle distribution functions, with scientifically useful data beginning on day 322 of 1990. Measurements are given in inertial RTN coordinates, incorporating magnetic field and spacecraft velocity corrections.

Use Cases

• Modeling solar wind proton dynamics based on bulk speed and density measurements.
• Analyzing plasma behavior during spacecraft nutation periods mentioned in the description.
• Studying short-term solar wind variations using 4-minute resolution data.
• Investigating coordinate transformations between spacecraft and inertial RTN frames.

Strengths

• Data originates from NASA's Ulysses mission, a recognized scientific source.
• Description specifies a clear start for scientifically useful data (day 322, 1990) and the end of a nutation period (day 351, 1990).
• Data granularity is explicitly stated as 4-minute resolution.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The description notes systematic uncertainties in velocity components and advises against their use for large-scale, long-term deflection studies.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Satellite observations from the Ulysses spacecraft SWOOPS instrument.

Time Range

Data begins on day 322 of 1990.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03 05:26:15.297720; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Solar wind measurements from the Sun's polar regions.