MESSENGER Neutron Spectrometer

PDS Geosciences Node: PDS Source Information

Search MESSENGER NS data in Mercury ODE:

The MESSENGER Neutron Spectrometer (NS) instrument measures the flux of ejected neutrons in three energy ranges [thermal neutrons (0.025 to 1 eV), epithermal neutrons (1 eV to 500 keV), and fast neutrons (500 keV to 7 MeV]. This allows identification of elements, such as Fe, Ti, Gd, Sm, Cl, C, H, and their abundances. The NS will map H abundance over Mercury’s northern hemisphere.

MESSENGER NS Products have been converted to the PDS4 standard. They are grouped into PDS4 collections based on processing level.

PDS4 Collection	Description	PDS4 Bundle
Raw Data	The MESSENGER NS raw product collection consists of uncalibrated observations from the NS instrument. There are ten standard product types associated with the NS sensor. Several raw product types contain spectra from the three neutron detectors within the instrument. Other raw product types contain events data, galactic cosmic ray spectra, gamma ray burst data, time-correlated counts, critical NS status information, and calibration and diagnostic information. A single raw product typically contains data collected over one Earth day.	urn:nasa:pds:mess_ns_raw
Calibrated Data	The MESSENGER NS calibrated product collection consists of NS data that have been calibrated for instrument and geometrical effects. There are five product types in this collection that include spectra from the three instrument detectors, along with count rate data, gamma burst, galactic cosmic ray spectra, and engineering data. In addition, products contain spacecraft navigation and attitude data derived from SPICE files, as well as selected relevant engineering data. A single product typically contains data collected over one Earth day.	urn:nasa:pds:mess_ns_derived The calibrated and derived data are in the same PDS4 bundle.
Derived Data	The MESSENGER NS derived product collection consists of calibrated NS data that have been selected to eliminate times where the background due to solar particle events is too high. Data have been corrected for gain variations. In addition, products contain spacecraft navigation and attitude data derived from SPICE files, as well as selected engineering data relevant to the NS. A single product typically contains data collected over one Earth day.	urn:nasa:pds:mess_ns_derived The calibrated and derived data are in the same PDS4 bundle.

MESSENGER NS Advanced Products that use the PDS4 standard:

Type

Description

Collection ID

MEAP3

Mercury Energetic Electron Event Tables (MEAP-3) - Izenberg PDART 2014 MESSENGER Advanced Products Energetic Electrons Table Collection. See MESSENGER Advanced Product Specification (PDF).

urn:nasa:pds:izenberg_pdart14_meap:data_eetable

More information about the NS can be found in:

Goldsten, J. O., et al., 2007, The MESSENGER Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer, Space Science Reviews, 131, p. 339-391, doi: 10.1007/s11214-007-9262-7.