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    • Voyager 2 Neptune Plasma Science (PLS) Derived Electron Magnetosphere, Version 1.0, 96 s Reduced Data Record (RDR) Data

    Metadata Updated: April 10, 2026

    • Data Set Overview\n =================\n\nThe Electron Spectra are fit using several isotropic Maxwellian Distribution functions to find Electron Parameters. The Spacecraft Charge may seriously affect the Density Measurements. The Temperature of each Component is, however, independent of the Spacecraft Potential. To obtain the best Estimate of the Electron Density, the Encounter Period is divided into four Regions and four different Analysis Methods are used.\n\n Parameters\n ==========\n\n Derived Parameters\n ==================\n\n+------------------------------------------------------------+\n| Parameter Characteristics | Value |\n--------------------------------------------------------------\n| Sampling Parameter Name | TIME |\n| Sampling Parameter Resolution | N/A |\n| Minimum Sampling Parameter | UNK |\n| Maximum Sampling Parameter | UNK |\n| Sampling Parameter Interval | UNK |\n| Minimum Available Sampling Interval | UNK |\n| Data Set Parameter Name | ELECTRON DENSITY |\n| Noise Level | UNK |\n| Data Set Parameter Unit | CM^-3 |\n+------------------------------------------------------------+\n\nElectron Density: A derived Parameter equaling the Number of Electrons per Unit Volume over a specified Range of Electron Energy. Different Forms of Electron Density are derived distinguished by Method of Derivation (Maxwellian Fit, Method of Moments) or by the some Selection Criteria (i.e., hot Electron and cold Electron Density). In general, if more than one Electron Component is analyzed, either by Moment or Fit, a total Density will be provided which is the Sum of the Electron Densities. If the Electron do not have a Maxwellian Distribution the actual Distribution can be represented as the Sum of several Maxwellians, in which case the Density of each Maxwellian is given.\n\n+------------------------------------------------------------+\n| Parameter Characteristics | Value |\n--------------------------------------------------------------\n| Sampling Parameter Name | TIME |\n| Sampling Parameter Resolution | N/A |\n| Minimum Sampling Parameter | UNK |\n| Maximum Sampling Parameter | UNK |\n| Sampling Parameter Interval | UNK |\n| Minimum Available Sampling Interval | UNK |\n| Data Set Parameter Name | ELECTRON TEMPERATURE |\n| Noise Level | UNK |\n| Data Set Parameter Unit | EV |\n+------------------------------------------------------------+\n\nElectron Temperature: A derived Parameter giving an Indication of the Mean Energy per Electron, assuming the Shape of the Electron Energy Spectrum to be Maxwellian (i.e. highest entropy shape). Given that the Electron Energy Spectrum is not exactly Maxwellian, the Electron Temperature can be defined integrally (whereby the Mean Energy obtained by integrating under the actual Electron Energy Spectrum is set equal to the Integral under a Maxwellian, where the Temperature is a free Parameter for which to solve), or differentially (whereby the Slopes of the actually Electron Energy Spectrum at various Energies are matched to the Slopes of a corresponding Maxwellian). The Temperature Parameter is often qualified with a Range of applicable Energies. Temperatures can be angularly anisotropic. If the Electrons do not have a Maxwellian Distribution the actual Distribution can be represented as the Sum of several Maxwellians, each with a separate Temperature.\n\nElectron Rate: A measured Parameter equaling the Number of Electrons hitting a Particle Detector per specified Accumulation Interval. The counted Electrons may or may not be discriminated as to their Energies (e.g. greater than E1, or between E1 and E2).\n\nElectron Current: A measured Parameter equaling the Rate at which negative Charge is collected by a Particle Detector. The Electrons contributing to this Current may be restricted by Energy. Electrons always have a Charge of 1, so this Quantity corresponds directly to the Electron Rate.\n\n References\n ==========\n\n Zhang, M., J. D. Richardson, and E. C. Sittler, Jr., Voyager 2 electron observations in the magnetosphere of Neptune, J. Geophys. Res., 96, 19,085-19,100, 1991.\n\n J. W. Belcher, H. S. Bridge, et al., Plasma observations near Neptune: Initial results from Voyager 2, Science, 246, 1478-1483, 1989.\n\n Scudder, J. D., E. C. Sittler, Jr. and H. S. Bridge, A survey of the plasma electron environment of Jupiter: a view from Voyager, J. Geophys. Res., 86, 8319-8342, 1981.\n\n* Sittler, E. C., Jr., K. W. Ogilvie and R. S. Selesnick, Survey of electrons in the Uranian magnetosphere: Voyager 2 observations, J. Geophys. Res., 92, 15,263-15,281, 1987.

    Access & Use Information

    Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: See this page for license information.

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    Dates

    Metadata Created Date March 13, 2026
    Metadata Updated Date April 10, 2026

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from NASA Data.json

    Other Data Resources

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Created Date March 13, 2026
    Metadata Updated Date April 10, 2026
    Publisher PDS PPI
    Maintainer
    Identifier /SDE/SPASE_JSON/|e4189d46ce09998b44883aa0ed8e2d3d
    Data Last Modified 2026-04-06
    Category Heliophysics
    Public Access Level public
    Bureau Code 026:00
    Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
    Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
    Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
    Harvest Object Id 16525c96-9030-4d2e-9d22-288cd1a7c2cf
    Harvest Source Id 58f92550-7a01-4f00-b1b2-8dc953bd598f
    Harvest Source Title NASA Data.json
    License https://www.usa.gov/government-works
    Program Code 026:000
    Source Datajson Identifier True
    Source Hash 39d3b0b9c8aacd22af869576c8ad503e63455be329f2730558622e328199cb04
    Source Schema Version 1.1

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