Voyager 2 Plasma Wave Spectra Near Neptune, 48-Second Averages

Data from 1977-08-20T15:53:00Z onward consists of 48-second averaged electric field intensities measured by the Voyager 2 Plasma Wave Spectrometer during its encounter with Neptune. The dataset includes calibrated wave strengths across 16 logarithmically spaced frequency channels from 10 Hz to 56.2 kHz, stored in volts per meter. It was produced by NASA and is described in the scientific literature by Gurnett et al. (1989).

Use Cases

• Analyzing plasma wave spectra and intensity variations based on the 16 frequency channels mentioned in the description.
• Studying the structure and dynamics of Neptune's magnetosphere based on calibrated electric field data.
• Modeling wave propagation and interactions in space plasma based on the logarithmic frequency spacing and field strength units.
• Comparing plasma wave activity across different planetary encounters based on the Voyager 2 instrument data.

Strengths

• Data is calibrated and averaged, with a specified noise level of 0.000005 V/m.
• Provides 16 frequency channels per measurement, logarithmically spaced from 10 Hz to 56.2 kHz.
• Time resolution is clearly defined as 48-second intervals, with a minimum available interval of 4 seconds.

Limitations

• Data gaps are not zero-filled or tagged, which may complicate continuous time-series analysis.
• 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 (NASA)

Collection Method

Measured by the Voyager 2 Plasma Wave Receiver Spectrum Analyzer and processed from the SA 4 s Data Set.

Time Range

From 1977-08-20T15:53:00Z onward, covering the Neptune encounter period.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 04:35:59.222638; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Vicinity of the Neptunian magnetosphere (outer space).