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Cassini observations of the thermal plasma in the vicinity of Saturn's main rings and the F and G rings
Gurnett, D. A.; Coates, A. J.; Thomsen, M. F. +10 more
The ion mass spectrometer on Cassini detected enhanced ion flux near Saturn's main rings that is consistent with the presence of atomic and molecular oxygen ions in the thermal plasma. The ring ``atmosphere'' and ``ionosphere'' are likely produced by UV photosputtering of the icy rings and subsequent photoionization of O2. The identific…
Propagation of the October/November 2003 CMEs through the heliosphere
Liu, Y.; Wang, C.; Richardson, J. D. +1 more
The solar storms of late October, early November 2003 generated many ICMEs. The Wind, ACE, Ulysses, Cassini, Voyager 2, and Voyager 1 spacecraft are distributed throughout the heliosphere and observe the effects of these ICMEs. We investigate whether these ICMEs form a global merged interaction region. WIND, ACE, and IMP 8 data are combined to pro…
Interior channels in Martian valleys: Constraints on fluvial erosion by measurements of the Mars Express High Resolution Stereo Camera
Jaumann, R.; Scholten, F.; Matz, K. -D. +12 more
In High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) images of the Mars Express Mission a 130 km long interior channel is identified within a 400 km long valley network system located in the Lybia Montes. Ages of the valley floor and the surroundings as derived from crater counts define a period of ~350 Myrs during which the valley might have been formed. Base…
The Saturnian plasma sheet as revealed by energetic particle measurements
Livi, S.; Krupp, N.; Woch, J. +9 more
Since July 2004 Cassini is in orbit around Saturn providing in-situ measurements of the Saturnian magnetosphere. One of the three sensors of the Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI) is the Low Energy Magnetospheric Measurement System (LEMMS) that responds to energetic particles which can serve as indicators of key regions (Krimigis et al., 200…
Introduction to the special section: Violent Sun-Earth connection events of October-November 2003
Plunkett, S. P.; Lu, G.; Gopalswamy, N. +2 more
During 2003 October and November, a series of solar eruptions occurred from three solar active regions. Some of these eruptions were extreme in terms of their origin (source properties) and heliospheric consequences. This paper summarizes the first results of the analysis of these violent Sun-Earth connection events.
Solar control on Jupiter's equatorial X-ray emissions: 26-29 November 2003 XMM-Newton observation
Branduardi-Raymont, G.; Soria, R.; Waite, J. H. +6 more
During Nov. 26-29, 2003 XMM-Newton observed soft (0.2-2 keV) X-ray emission from Jupiter for 69 hours. The low-latitude X-ray disk emission of Jupiter is observed to be almost uniform in intensity with brightness that is consistent with a solar-photon driven process. The simultaneous light curves of Jovian equatorial X rays and solar X rays (measu…
Dynamics of the Saturnian inner magnetosphere: First inferences from the Cassini magnetometers about small-scale plasma transport in the magnetosphere
André, N.; Russell, C. T.; Dougherty, M. K. +2 more
The Cassini magnetometers reveal a very dynamic plasmadisc within the inner Saturnian magnetosphere during the first three orbits of the Cassini orbital tour. This corotation-dominated region is known to contain various neutral and plasma populations and Voyager spacecraft observations suggest important radial transport processes redistribute the …
Ion sound wave packets at the quasiperpendicular shock front
Krasnoselskikh, V.; Dunlop, M.; Fazakerley, A. +6 more
Electric field measurements from a single spacecraft have been used to study ion-sound turbulence observed within the Earth's bow shock. The observed frequency of the ion-sound waves can be both lower and higher than the local electron cyclotron frequency depending upon the direction of wave propagation in the plasma rest frame. The ion-sound wave…
Structures induced by small moonlets in Saturn's rings: Implications for the Cassini Mission
Seiß, M.; Spahn, F.; Sremčević, M. +1 more
Particle simulations are carried out to study density features caused by small moonlets embedded in a dense planetary ring. The creation of a ``propeller'' like structure is found together with adjacent density wakes. Both features are clear indications for the existence of moonlets in the rings. We confirmed that the propeller scales with the Hil…
The sub-Parker spiral structure of the heliospheric magnetic field
McComas, D. J.; Schwadron, N. A.
Recent studies have shown that the heliospheric magnetic field can be much more radial than the standard Parker spiral in the rarefactions of co-rotation interaction regions (CIRs). This effect can be explained by the motion of open magnetic field foot points at the Sun across the coronal hole boundary. Such motion causes magnetic field lines to b…