Search Publications

Water ice abundance and CO₂ band strength on the saturnian satellite Phoebe from Cassini/VIMS observations

Hansen, Gary B.; Hollenbeck, Emily C.; Stephan, Katrin +2 more

We have studied the near-infrared spectrum of the Saturn satellite Phoebe, a distant satellite observed before Cassini's Saturn orbit insertion, using data from the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) on the Cassini orbiter. We have done a critical calibration of the dataset that involves careful correction of dark artifacts. We model …

HST/STIS observations and simulation of Io's emission spectrum in Jupiter shadow: Probing Io's Jupiter-facing eclipse atmosphere

Trafton, L. M.; McGrath, M. A.; Goldstein, D. B. +2 more

We report the detection of SO₂ emission from Io in Jupiter's shadow, peaking near 26 Rayleigh/Å around 3150 Å, and emission from its associated excitation-dissociation products, SO in the 2550 Å band and S I in the 1800 and 1900 Å multiplets. In addition, an unidentified emission spectrum was discovered between ∼4100 Å and ∼5700 Å, whic…

Null Variance Altitudes for the photolysis rate constants of species with barometric distribution: Illustration on Titan upper atmosphere modeling

Dobrijevic, Michel; Pernot, Pascal; Peng, Zhe +1 more

The precision of the rates of the photolysis processes initiating the complex chemistry of Titan's upper atmosphere conditions strongly the predictivity of photochemical models. Recent studies in sensitivity analysis of such models point out photolysis rate constants as key parameters. However, they have been treated approximately so far. We deal …

Microstructural penetrometry of asteroid regolith analogues and Titan's surface

Green, S. F.; Ball, A. J.; Paton, M. D.

We investigate essential aspects of penetrometer design required to measure particle properties on asteroids using a combination of laboratory analogue regoliths and spaceflight data returned by the Huygens probe from Titan. Penetrometry in granular material is complicated due to multiple and interdependent mechanical processes that occur during p…

Erratum to “Saturn’s F ring grains: Aggregates made of crystalline water ice” [Icarus 215 (2011) 682-694]

Nicholson, Philip D.; Sotin, Christophe; Clark, Roger N. +8 more

Analysis of energetic electron drop-outs in the upper atmosphere of Titan during flybys in the dayside magnetosphere of Saturn

Krupp, N.; Fränz, M.; Dougherty, M. K. +7 more

We discuss the high energy electron absorption signatures at Titan during the Cassini dayside magnetospheric encounters. We use the electron measurements of the Low Energy Measurement System of the Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument. We also examine the mass loading boundary based on the ion data of the Ion Mass Spectrometer sensor of the Cassini P…

Erratum to “The Christiansen Effect in Saturn’s narrow dusty rings and the spectral identification of clumps in the F ring” [Icarus 215 (2011) 695-711]

Sotin, C.; Brown, R. H.; Buratti, B. J. +5 more

The volcanic history of Mars: High-resolution crater-based studies of the calderas of 20 volcanoes

Hynek, Brian M.; Robbins, Stuart J.; di Achille, Gaetano

Determining absolute surface ages for bodies in the Solar System is, at present, only possible for Earth and Moon with radiometric dating for both bodies and biologic proxies such as fossils for Earth. Relative ages through cratering statistics are recognized as one of the most reliable proxies for relative ages, calibrated by lunar geologic mappi…

Sequence and timing of conditions on early Mars

Head, James W.; Fassett, Caleb I.

The geological record of early Mars displays a variety of features that indicate fundamental differences from more recent conditions. These include evidence for: (1) widespread aqueous alteration and phyllosilicate formation, (2) the existence of an active magnetic dynamo, (3) the erosion of extensive valley networks, some thousands of kilometers …

Accretion of Saturn’s mid-sized moons during the viscous spreading of young massive rings: Solving the paradox of silicate-poor rings versus silicate-rich moons

Dones, Luke; Charnoz, Sébastien; Crida, Aurélien +7 more

The origin of Saturn’s inner mid-sized moons (Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione and Rhea) and Saturn’s rings is debated. Charnoz et al. [Charnoz, S., Salmon J., Crida A., 2010. Nature 465, 752-754] introduced the idea that the smallest inner moons could form from the spreading of the rings’ edge while Salmon et al. [Salmon, J., Charnoz, S., Crida, A…