Search Publications
PacMan returns: An electron-generated thermal anomaly on Tethys
Spencer, J. R.; Howett, C. J. A.; Segura, M. +2 more
New Cassini observations show that Saturn’s moon Tethys, like Mimas, has a region of anomalously high thermal inertia at low latitudes centered on its leading hemisphere. Derivation of the thermophysical properties of the surface across three representative regions indicate that the bolometric Bond albedo across Tethys’ leading hemisphere remains …
General circulation and transport in Saturn's upper troposphere and stratosphere
Moses, Julianne I.; Friedson, A. James
We present a model for the general circulation and dynamical transport in Saturn's upper troposphere and stratosphere and derive the effective advective circulation and eddy transport coefficients required for use in two-dimensional (latitude-altitude) photochemistry-transport models. A three-dimensional Outer-Planet General Circulation Model (OPG…
Characterization of hydrated silicate-bearing outcrops in Tyrrhena Terra, Mars: Implications to the alteration history of Mars
Mangold, N.; Bibring, J. -P.; Gondet, B. +7 more
The Tyrrhena Terra region of Mars is studied with the imaging spectrometers OMEGA (Observatoire pour la Minéralogie, l'Eau, les Glaces et l'Activité) onboard Mars Express and CRISM (Compact Reconnaissance Infrared Spectrometer for Mars) onboard Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, through the observation of tens of craters that impacted into this part of …
Asteroid (2867) Steins: Shape, topography and global physical properties from OSIRIS observations
Jorda, L.; Lamy, P. L.; Groussin, O. +4 more
The Rosetta spacecraft flew by Asteroid (2867) Steins on 5 September 2008, allowing the onboard OSIRIS cameras to collect the first images of an E-type asteroid. We implemented several three-dimensional reconstruction techniques to retrieve its shape. Limb profiles, combined with stereo control points, were used to reconstruct an approximate shape…
A noon-to-midnight electric field and nightside dynamics in Saturn's inner magnetosphere, using microsignature observations
Krupp, N.; Dougherty, M. K.; Roussos, E. +5 more
We have created a new, updated catalog of energetic electron microsignature events caused by the moons Tethys and Dione. We used electron data of the MIMI-LEMMS detector that is onboard the Cassini spacecraft, in the energy range 20-300 keV and for the period from July 2004 to January 2011. The present study looks at how the location of a moon's w…
Topographic, spectral and thermal inertia analysis of interior layered deposits in Iani Chaos, Mars
Teanby, N. A.; Grindrod, P. M.; Sefton-Nash, E. +2 more
We present an analysis of Interior Layered Deposits (ILDs) in Iani Chaos using visible, infrared, hyperspectral and topographic datasets acquired by instruments aboard NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft. We focus on four main regions where ILDs outcrop in Iani Chaos. Deposits sp…
Water vapor in Titan's stratosphere from Cassini CIRS far-infrared spectra
Lellouch, E.; Irwin, P. G. J.; Teanby, N. A. +12 more
Here we report the measurement of water vapor in Titan's stratosphere using the Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS, Flasar, F.M. et al. [2004]. Space Sci. Rev. 115, 169-297). CIRS senses water emissions in the far infrared spectral region near 50 µm, which we have modeled using two independent radiative transfer codes (NEMESIS (Ir…
Thermal structure and CO distribution for the Venus mesosphere/lower thermosphere: 2001-2009 inferior conjunction sub-millimeter CO absorption line observations
Moriarty-Schieven, Gerald; Clancy, R. Todd; Sandor, Brad J.
Sub-millimeter 12CO (346 GHz) and 13CO (330 GHz) line absorptions, formed in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere of Venus (70-120 km), have been mapped across the nightside Venus disk during 2001-2009 inferior conjunctions, employing the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). Radiative transfer analysis of these thermal line…
The 2009-2010 fade of Jupiter's South Equatorial Belt: Vertical cloud structure models and zonal winds from visible imaging
Sánchez-Lavega, A.; Rojas, J. F.; Pérez-Hoyos, S. +3 more
The South Equatorial Belt (SEB) of Jupiter is known to alternate its appearance at visible wavelengths from a classical belt-like band most of the time to a short-lived zone-like aspect which is called a "fade" of the belt, hereafter SEBF. The albedo change of the SEB is due to a change in the structure and properties of the clouds and upper hazes…
Ground-based observations of the long-term evolution and death of Saturn's 2010 Great White Spot
Hueso, Ricardo; del Río-Gaztelurrutia, Teresa; Sánchez-Lavega, Agustín +8 more
We report on the long-term evolution of Saturn's sixth Great White Spot (GWS) event that initiated at northern mid-latitudes of the planet on December 5th, 2010 (Fletcher, L. et al. [2011]. Science 332, 1413-1417; Sánchez-Lavega, A. et al. [2011]. Nature 475, 71-74; Fischer, G. et al. [2011]. Nature 475, 75-77). We find from ground-based observati…