Search Publications
Analysis of Titan's neutral upper atmosphere from Cassini Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer measurements
Waite, J. H.; Yelle, R. V.; Kasprzak, W. T. +10 more
In this paper we present an in-depth study of the distributions of various neutral species in Titan's upper atmosphere, between 950 and 1500 km for abundant species (N 2, CH 4, H 2) and between 950 and 1200 km for other minor species. Our analysis is based on a large sample of Cassini/INMS (Ion Neutral Mass Spectro…
Phosphine on Jupiter and Saturn from Cassini/CIRS
Fletcher, L. N.; Irwin, P. G. J.; Teanby, N. A. +1 more
The global distribution of phosphine (PH 3) on Jupiter and Saturn is derived using 2.5 cm -1 spectral resolution Cassini/CIRS observations. We extend the preliminary PH 3 analyses on the gas giants [Irwin, P.G.J., and 6 colleagues, 2004. Icarus 172, 37-49; Fletcher, L.N., and 9 colleagues, 2007a. Icarus 188, 72-88]…
Methane and its isotopologues on Saturn from Cassini/CIRS observations
Fletcher, L. N.; Irwin, P. G. J.; Teanby, N. A. +2 more
High spectral resolution observations from the Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer [Flasar, F.M., and 44 colleagues, 2004. Space Sci. Rev. 115, 169-297] are analysed to derive new estimates for the mole fractions of CH 4, CH 3D and 13CH 4 of (4.7±0.2)×10, (3.0±0.2)×10 and (5.1±0.2)×10 respectively. T…
Determining Titan surface topography from Cassini SAR data
Cassini RADAR Team; Stiles, Bryan W.; Kirk, Randolph L. +17 more
A technique, referred to as SARTopo, has been developed for obtaining surface height estimates with 10 km horizontal resolution and 75 m vertical resolution of the surface of Titan along each Cassini Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) swath. We describe the technique and present maps of the co-located data sets. A global map and regional maps of Xanad…
Titan's surface at 2.2-cm wavelength imaged by the Cassini RADAR radiometer: Calibration and first results
Lorenz, R. D.; Janssen, M. A.; Stiles, B. +16 more
The first comprehensive calibration and mapping of the thermal microwave emission from Titan's surface is reported based on radiometric data obtained at 2.2-cm wavelength by the passive radiometer included in the Cassini Radar instrument. The data reported were accumulated from 69 separate observational segments in Titan passes from Ta (October 20…
Model-data comparisons for Titan's nightside ionosphere
Coates, A. J.; Wahlund, J. -E.; Neubauer, F. M. +9 more
Solar and X-ray radiation and energetic plasma from Saturn's magnetosphere interact with the upper atmosphere producing an ionosphere at Titan. The highly coupled ionosphere and upper atmosphere system mediates the interaction between Titan and the external environment. A model of Titan's nightside ionosphere will be described and the results comp…
Vertical and meridional distribution of ethane, acetylene and propane in Saturn’s stratosphere from CIRS/Cassini limb observations
Bézard, Bruno; Guerlet, Sandrine; Fouchet, Thierry +2 more
Measuring the spatial distribution of chemical compounds in Saturn's stratosphere is critical to better understand the planet's photochemistry and dynamics. Here we present an analysis of infrared spectra in the range 600-1400 cm -1 acquired in limb geometry by the Cassini spacecraft between March 2005 and January 2008. We first determi…
Titan's stratospheric C 2N 2, C 3H 4, and C 4H 2 abundances from Cassini/CIRS far-infrared spectra
Irwin, P. G. J.; Teanby, N. A.; Calcutt, S. B. +4 more
Far-IR (25-50 µm, 200-400 cm -1) nadir and limb spectra measured during Cassini's four year prime mission by the Composite InfraRed Spectrometer (CIRS) instrument have been used to determine the abundances of cyanogen (C 2N 2), methylacetylene (C 3H 4), and diacetylene (C 4H <…
Titan solar occultation observed by Cassini/VIMS: Gas absorption and constraints on aerosol composition
Baines, K. H.; Nicholson, P. D.; Drossart, P. +5 more
A solar occultation by Titan's atmosphere has been observed through the solar port of the Cassini/VIMS instrument on January 15th, 2006. Transmission spectra acquired during solar egress probe the atmosphere in the altitude range 70 to 900 km at the latitude of 71° S. Several molecular absorption bands of CH 4 and CO are visible in thes…
Shoreline features of Titan's Ontario Lacus from Cassini/VIMS observations
Sotin, Christophe; Barnes, Jason W.; Soderblom, Jason M. +12 more
We analyze observations of Titan's south polar lake Ontario Lacus obtained by Cassini's Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer during the 38th flyby of Titan (T38; 2007 December 5). These near-closest-approach observations have the highest signal-to-noise, the finest spatial resolution, and the least atmospheric influence of any near-infrared la…