Search Publications
Evolution of Titan's rocky core constrained by Cassini observations
Lunine, Jonathan I.; Castillo-Rogez, Julie C.
We model the thermal evolution of Titan's core and search for solutions that are consistent with the mean moment of inertia yielded by the Cassini-Huygens Mission. Like previous studies we assume that Titan's core is enriched in hydrated silicates. However, our modeling accounts for the possible dehydration of these minerals. The resulting models …
Properties of Saturn kilometric radiation measured within its source region
Schippers, P.; André, N.; Gurnett, D. A. +9 more
On 17 October 2008, the Cassini spacecraft crossed the southern sources of Saturn kilometric radiation (SKR), while flying along high-latitude nightside magnetic field lines. In situ measurements allowed us to characterize for the first time the source region of an extra-terrestrial auroral radio emission. Using radio, magnetic field and particle …
Saturn's internal planetary magnetic field
Russell, C. T.; Dougherty, M. K.; Burton, M. E.
A model of Saturn's internal planetary magnetic field based on data from the Cassini prime mission has been derived. In the absence of a determination of the rotation rate, the model is constrained to be axisymmetric. Non-axisymmetric models for a range of plausible planetary rotation periods have also been derived and we evaluate upper limits on …
Specular reflection on Titan: Liquids in Kraken Mare
Sotin, Christophe; Barnes, Jason W.; Soderblom, Jason M. +12 more
After more than 50 close flybys of Titan by the Cassini spacecraft, it has become evident that features similar in morphology to terrestrial lakes and seas exist in Titan's polar regions. As Titan progresses into northern spring, the much more numerous and larger lakes and seas in the north-polar region suggested by Cassini RADAR data, are becomin…
The reversal of the rotational modulation rates of the north and south components of Saturn kilometric radiation near equinox
Gurnett, D. A.; Persoon, A. M.; Kurth, W. S. +5 more
It has been known for many years that Saturn emits intense radio emissions at kilometer wavelengths and that this radiation is modulated by the rotation of the planet at a rate that varies slowly on time scales of years. Recently it has been shown that the radio emission consists of two components that have different rotational modulation rates, o…
Active shoreline of Ontario Lacus, Titan: A morphological study of the lake and its surroundings
Stofan, E.; Le Gall, A.; Mitchell, K. +18 more
Of more than 400 filled lakes now identified on Titan, the first and largest reported in the southern latitudes is Ontario Lacus, which is dark in both infrared and microwave. Here we describe recent observations including synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images by Cassini's radar instrument (λ = 2 cm) and show morphological evidence for active mate…
Variation of Saturn's UV aurora with SKR phase
Cecconi, B.; Lamy, L.; Nichols, J. D. +6 more
It is well known that a wide range of kronian magnetospheric phenomena, including the Saturn kilometric radiation (SKR), exhibit oscillations near the planetary rotation period. However, although the SKR is believed to be generated by unstable auroral electrons, no connection has been established to date between diurnal SKR modulations and UV auro…
Dawn-dusk oscillation of Saturn's conjugate auroral ovals
Lamy, L.; Nichols, J. D.; Cowley, S. W. H.
We present observations of the oscillation of the dawn-dusk locations of Saturn's northern and southern UV auroral ovals obtained using the Hubble Space Telescope during the 2009 equinoctial campaign. We determine the dawn-dusk locations of the centers of the southern and northern auroral ovals from the mean of the dawnward and duskward extents of…
Particle pressure, inertial force, and ring current density profiles in the magnetosphere of Saturn, based on Cassini measurements
Coates, A. J.; Krupp, N.; Dougherty, M. K. +9 more
We report initial results on the particle pressure distribution and its contribution to ring current density in the equatorial magnetosphere of Saturn, as measured by the Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI) and the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) onboard the Cassini spacecraft. Data were obtained from September 2005 to May 2006, within ±0.…
Detection of visible lightning on Saturn
Kurth, W. S.; West, R. A.; Fischer, G. +4 more
Until now, evidence for lightning on Saturn has been indirect - through radio emissions and cloud morphology. Here we report the first visible detection of lightning, on the night side on August 17, 2009 at -36.4° ± 0.1° planetocentric latitude and 10.6° ± 0.9° west longitude. No other locations produced lightning detectable by either imaging or r…