Welcome to BepiColombo–SIXS at Aberystwyth University

On this site you can find information about the SIXS instrument and team, where to find SIXS data and complementary datasets, and dates of special observations.

BepiColombo is on its way to Mercury and already some instruments are collecting data during this cruise phase, including SIXS.

Measurements by MPO/SIXS and SOHO/ERNE in 14–23 June 2019, showing increases in low-energy proton intensities related to an interaction region in the solar wind outside both spacecraft. From: Solar Intensity X-Ray and Particle Spectrometer SIXS: Instrument Design and First Results.
Solar spectrum with fitted VAPEC model. The uncertainty below 1.2 keV is due to very low quantum efficiency (Fig. 12) below 1.2 keV. The fit to the continuum above 1.2 keV is relatively good despite the low number of raw counts. Two spectral lines are visible at 1.4 keV and at 1.85 keV. These are the spectral lines of ionized Mg (1.4 keV) and Si (1,85 keV). From: Solar Intensity X-Ray and Particle Spectrometer SIXS: Instrument Design and First Results.

Please note that not all BepiColombo data is public – if you are interesting in SIXS data then please contact: Manuel Grande (mng@aber.ac.uk) or Rosie Johnson (roj40@aber.ac.uk).

Where is Bepi?
BepiColombo–SIXS Data

Dates SIXS is switched on

2018

2019

2020

2021

  • Dec: 6-7, 11-15
  • Mar: 6-16, 21-25
  • Jun: 3-4, 7-23
  • Nov: 25-26, 29-30
  • Dec: 2-18
  • Jan: 9-21, 25-31
  • Feb: 1-21
  • Apr: 4-21
  • May: 1-31
  • Jun: 1-16, 19, 22-23
  • Sept: 5-9, 24, 29
  • Oct 19-21
  • Dec: 15-16
  • Feb: 1-2, 8-9, 15
  • Apr: 17-18
  • Jun: 15-16, 27
  • Jul: 6
  • Aug: 1, 3, 5, 8-19, 21-31
  • Sept:1,7-15, 30
  • Oct: 1-3
  • Nov: 23-24

Useful resources