MESSENGER File Name Convention

MESSENGER data file names were selected to give users an immediate sense of what the file contains.

TInnnnnnnnnnF
T = Target (E=Earth, V=Venus, M=Mercury)
I = Instrument (W=MDIS Wide Angle Camera)
nnnnnnnnnn = spacecraft clock ticks since launch (very close to seconds past launch)
F=Filter Code (see Table below)

For example a MESSENGER data file with the name EW0031489448C is easily recognized as being a MDIS wide angle camera image (W) of the Earth (E) taken at spacecraft clock count 0031489448 through the 480 nm (blue light) filter (C).

MDIS Filter Code Translation Table

Code #Wavelength (nm)Width (nm)
A7005
B700600
C48010
D5605
E6305
F41540
G7505
H9507
I100015
J9005
K102040
L8305