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) |
A | 700 | 5 |
B | 700 | 600 |
C | 480 | 10 |
D | 560 | 5 |
E | 630 | 5 |
F | 415 | 40 |
G | 750 | 5 |
H | 950 | 7 |
I | 1000 | 15 |
J | 900 | 5 |
K | 1020 | 40 |
L | 830 | 5 |