Cassini Magnetometer Observations During Saturn Orbit Insertion
Russell, C. T.; Dougherty, M. K.; Balogh, A.; Tsurutani, B. T.; Khurana, K. K.; Glassmeier, K. -H.; Neubauer, F. M.; Andre, N.; Burton, M. E.; Smith, E. J.; Cowley, S. W. H.; Giampieri, G.; Bertucci, C.; Southwood, D. J.; Arridge, C. S.; Erdos, G.; Achilleos, N.; Leisner, J.
United Kingdom, France, United States, Hungary, Germany
Abstract
Cassini's successful orbit insertion has provided the first examination of Saturn's magnetosphere in 23 years, revealing a dynamic plasma and magnetic environment on short and long time scales. There has been no noticeable change in the internal magnetic field, either in its strength or its near-alignment with the rotation axis. However, the external magnetic field is different compared with past spacecraft observations. The current sheet within the magnetosphere is thinner and more extended, and we observed small diamagnetic cavities and ion cyclotron waves of types that were not reported before.