Vega 2 Magnetic Field Data: Interplanetary Measurements from 1984-1986

Vega 2 Magnetic Field Data provides 2.5-minute averaged magnetic field measurements from the Vega 2 spacecraft mission. The data, provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, covers the cruise phase from Earth to Venus (December 1984 to June 1985) and the period after the Venus flybys up to the encounter with Comet Halley in March 1986. Measurements are presented in different coordinate systems depending on the spacecraft's orientation phase.

Use Cases

• Analyzing interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) discontinuities based on the Br component and total field magnitude B.
• Studying IMF orientation variations over timescales of a few hours based on the description of axis stability.
• Comparing magnetic field conditions during different mission phases (cruise vs. three-axis stabilized) based on the coordinate system changes described.

Strengths

• Data covers a specific multi-year mission period from December 1984 to March 1986.
• Description provides detailed context on spacecraft orientation and coordinate systems for correct interpretation.
• Includes a calculated total magnetic field magnitude (B) component.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• For the cruise phase, the directions of the By and Bz components are unknown, limiting vector analysis.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Measurements from the magnetometer on the Vega 2 spacecraft.

Time Range

December 1984 to March 1986

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 05:22:49.373374; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Interplanetary space along the Vega 2 trajectory from Earth to Venus and Comet Halley.