metadata
license: cc-by-4.0
pretty_name: Deep Space Probes -- Merged Hourly Data
language:
- en
description: >-
Merged hourly magnetic field, solar wind plasma, and energetic particle
measurements from humanity's four most distant spacecraft: Voyager 1, Voyager
2, Pioneer 10, and Pioneer 11. Each record includ
task_categories:
- tabular-regression
- time-series-forecasting
tags:
- space
- heliophysics
- voyager
- pioneer
- solar-wind
- magnetic-field
- deep-space
- nasa
- spdf
- interstellar
- open-data
- tabular-data
- parquet
size_categories:
- 1M<n<10M
configs:
- config_name: default
data_files:
- split: train
path: data/deep_space_probes.parquet
default: true
Deep Space Probes -- Merged Hourly Data
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Part of a dataset collection on Hugging Face.
Dataset description
Merged hourly magnetic field, solar wind plasma, and energetic particle measurements from humanity's four most distant spacecraft: Voyager 1, Voyager 2, Pioneer 10, and Pioneer 11.
Each record includes spacecraft position (heliocentric distance, HGI latitude/longitude), interplanetary magnetic field components (RTN coordinates), solar wind plasma parameters (flow speed, proton density, temperature), and energetic particle fluxes at multiple energy channels from the LECP, CRS, and CRT instruments.
Voyager 1 crossed the heliopause (121 AU) in August 2012 and Voyager 2 (119 AU) in November 2018, making this dataset unique in spanning the transition from the heliosphere to interstellar space. Pioneer 10 and 11, launched in 1972-1973, were the first spacecraft to traverse the asteroid belt and encounter Jupiter and Saturn.
The interplanetary magnetic field measurements trace the structure of the Parker spiral carried outward by the solar wind. Solar wind speed, density, and temperature document how the wind decelerates and heats through interactions with pickup ions in the outer heliosphere. The energetic particle fluxes record galactic cosmic rays modulated by the solar cycle, anomalous cosmic rays accelerated at the termination shock, and transient particle events from solar energetic particle events and interplanetary shocks.
This dataset is suitable for tabular regression, time-series forecasting tasks.
Schema
| Column | Type | Description | Sample | Null % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
spacecraft |
str | Spacecraft identifier: voyager_1, voyager_2, pioneer_10, or pioneer_11 | pioneer_10 | 0.0% |
datetime |
datetime64[us] | Observation timestamp (UTC, hourly cadence) derived from year, day-of-year, and hour in the source data | 1972-01-01 00:00:00 | 0.0% |
heliocentric_distance_au |
float64 | Distance from the Sun in astronomical units (AU); ranges from ~1 AU at launch to 160+ AU for Voyager 1 in interstellar space | 0.99 | 3.8% |
hgi_latitude_deg |
float64 | Heliographic Inertial (HGI) latitude in degrees; measures angular position above/below the solar equatorial plane | -7.2 | 3.8% |
hgi_longitude_deg |
float64 | Heliographic Inertial (HGI) longitude in degrees; measures angular position in the solar equatorial plane relative to the ascending node of the solar equator on the ecliptic | 56.6 | 3.8% |
b_magnitude_nt |
float64 | Magnetic field magnitude in nT, computed as sqrt(Br^2 + Bt^2 + Bn^2); falls off approximately as 1/r^2 (radial) to 1/r (tangential) with distance | 5.1619 | 60.0% |
br_rtn_nt |
float64 | Radial component of the interplanetary magnetic field in RTN coordinates (nT); positive outward from the Sun along the Parker spiral | 0.4189 | 60.0% |
bt_rtn_nt |
float64 | Tangential component of the magnetic field in RTN coordinates (nT); positive in the direction of planetary motion; dominates at large heliocentric distances | 0.0482 | 60.0% |
bn_rtn_nt |
float64 | Normal component of the magnetic field in RTN coordinates (nT); positive northward; typically small compared to Br and Bt | 1.4772 | 60.0% |
flow_speed_kms |
float64 | Proton bulk flow speed in km/s; typically 300-800 km/s in the inner heliosphere, decelerating in the outer heliosheath; null beyond the heliopause where solar wind is absent | 322.6 | 78.7% |
flow_elevation_deg |
float64 | Flow velocity elevation angle in degrees relative to the RTN radial direction; non-radial flows indicate stream interactions or shock deflections | 6.2 | 79.2% |
flow_azimuth_deg |
float64 | Flow velocity azimuth angle in degrees in the RTN tangential-normal plane; deviations from purely radial flow | -1.7 | 79.2% |
proton_density_cm3 |
float64 | Proton number density in particles/cm^3; decreases roughly as 1/r^2 with heliocentric distance; typical values: ~5 at 1 AU, ~0.001 at 100 AU | 5.1725 | 78.8% |
proton_temperature_k |
float64 | Proton temperature in Kelvin; decreases with distance but more slowly than adiabatic due to pickup ion heating in the outer heliosphere | 39856.0 | 79.1% |
b_magnitude_avg_nt |
float64 | Average magnetic field magnitude in nT, computed as 1/N SUM |B| over the hour; Voyager only, null for Pioneer | 5.05 | 68.1% |
flux_h_crs_12p8_17p9_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 12.8-17.9 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.0004164 | 56.6% |
flux_h_crs_130p3_154p2_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 130.3-154.2 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.0001767 | 78.7% |
flux_h_crs_132p8_154p9_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 132.8-154.9 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.0002287 | 77.8% |
flux_h_crs_154p2_171p3_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 154.2-171.3 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.0001408 | 78.7% |
flux_h_crs_154p9_174p9_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 154.9-174.9 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.00026 | 77.8% |
flux_h_crs_171p3_193p6_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 171.3-193.6 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.0001832 | 78.7% |
flux_h_crs_174p9_187p7_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 174.9-187.7 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.000272 | 77.8% |
flux_h_crs_17p9_30p0_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 17.9-30.0 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.000393 | 56.6% |
flux_h_crs_187p7_220p5_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 187.7-220.5 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.0002241 | 77.8% |
flux_h_crs_193p6_208p2_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 193.6-208.2 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.0002077 | 78.7% |
flux_h_crs_208p2_245p7_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 208.2-245.7 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.0002034 | 78.7% |
flux_h_crs_220p5_270p1_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 220.5-270.1 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.00023 | 77.8% |
flux_h_crs_245p7_272p3_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 245.7-272.3 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.0002089 | 78.7% |
flux_h_crs_270p1_346p0_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 270.1-346.0 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.0002328 | 77.8% |
flux_h_crs_272p3_344p0_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 272.3-344.0 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.000254 | 78.7% |
flux_h_crs_30p0_48p0_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 30.0-48.0 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.0002982 | 56.6% |
flux_h_crs_344p0_478p6_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 344.0-478.6 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.000297 | 78.7% |
flux_h_crs_3p0_4p6_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 3.0-4.6 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.03724 | 56.6% |
flux_h_crs_478p6_598p7_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 478.6-598.7 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.0002773 | 78.7% |
flux_h_crs_48p0_56p0_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 48.0-56.0 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.0002834 | 56.6% |
flux_h_crs_4p6_6p2_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 4.6-6.2 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.005909 | 56.6% |
flux_h_crs_6p2_7p7_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 6.2-7.7 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.002487 | 56.6% |
flux_h_crs_74p5_83p7_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 74.5-83.7 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.0002305 | 77.8% |
flux_h_crs_75p9_82p6_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 75.9-82.6 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 3.998e-05 | 78.7% |
flux_h_crs_7p7_12p8_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRS instrument in the 7.7-12.8 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.0006798 | 56.6% |
flux_h_crt_120p7_227p3_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRT instrument in the 120.7-227.3 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 7.57684e-05 | 71.3% |
flux_h_crt_30p55_56p47_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRT instrument in the 30.55-56.47 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.0 | 71.3% |
flux_h_crt_3p45_5p15_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from CRT instrument in the 3.45-5.15 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 10.51345 | 71.3% |
flux_h_lecp_0p52_1p45_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from LECP instrument in the 0.52-1.45 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 3.531 | 89.5% |
flux_h_lecp_0p57_1p78_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from LECP instrument in the 0.57-1.78 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 1.571 | 86.2% |
flux_h_lecp_22p0_30p0_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from LECP instrument in the 22.0-30.0 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.0009056 | 86.2% |
flux_h_lecp_22p0_31p0_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from LECP instrument in the 22.0-31.0 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.001205 | 85.1% |
flux_h_lecp_3p04_17p3_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from LECP instrument in the 3.04-17.3 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.004902 | 86.5% |
flux_h_lecp_3p40_17p6_mev |
float64 | Differential proton flux from LECP instrument in the 3.40-17.6 MeV energy channel, in units of 1/(cm^2 s sr MeV); null when fill values indicate no valid measurement | 0.003498 | 85.1% |
Quick stats
- 1,183,368 hourly records (1972-01-01 to 2025-12-31)
- 4 spacecraft: Voyager 1 & 2, Pioneer 10 & 11
- Maximum heliocentric distance: 169.2 AU (Voyager 1)
- Covers heliosphere, heliosheath, and interstellar space
- Voyager 1: 403,224 hourly records
- Voyager 2: 385,704 hourly records
- Pioneer 10: 210,384 hourly records
- Pioneer 11: 184,056 hourly records
Usage
from datasets import load_dataset
ds = load_dataset("juliensimon/deep-space-probes", split="train")
df = ds.to_pandas()
from datasets import load_dataset
ds = load_dataset("juliensimon/deep-space-probes", split="train")
df = ds.to_pandas()
# Voyager 1 in interstellar space (beyond heliopause at ~121 AU)
v1_interstellar = df[
(df["spacecraft"] == "voyager_1") &
(df["heliocentric_distance_au"] > 121)
]
# Compare solar wind speed across all probes
for sc in df["spacecraft"].unique():
sub = df[df["spacecraft"] == sc].dropna(subset=["flow_speed_kms"])
print(f"{sc}: mean flow speed = {sub['flow_speed_kms'].mean():.0f} km/s")
# Magnetic field decay with distance
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
v1 = df[df["spacecraft"] == "voyager_1"].dropna(subset=["b_magnitude_nt"])
plt.scatter(v1["heliocentric_distance_au"], v1["b_magnitude_nt"], s=0.1, alpha=0.3)
plt.xlabel("Distance (AU)")
plt.ylabel("|B| (nT)")
plt.yscale("log")
plt.title("Voyager 1: Magnetic Field vs Distance")
plt.show()
Data source
Update schedule
Monthly (1st at 07:00 UTC). Voyager data is still being collected; Pioneer missions ended in the 1990s.
Related datasets
If you find this dataset useful, please consider giving it a like on Hugging Face. It helps others discover it.
About the author
Created by Julien Simon — AI Operating Partner at Fortino Capital. Part of the Space Datasets collection.
Citation
@dataset{deep_space_probes,
title = {Deep Space Probes -- Merged Hourly Data},
author = {juliensimon},
year = {2026},
url = {https://huggingface.co/datasets/juliensimon/deep-space-probes},
publisher = {Hugging Face}
}