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Electron oscillations in the induced martian magnetosphere
Coates, A. J.; Kallio, E.; Fedorov, A. +42 more
The Analyzer of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA-3) experiment flown on the Mars Express (MEX) spacecraft includes the Electron Spectrometer (ELS) as part of its complement. The ELS instrument measures the differential electron flux spectrum in a 128-level logarithmic energy sweep within a time period of 4 s. The orbital path of MEX trave…
First ENA observations at Mars: ENA emissions from the martian upper atmosphere
Coates, A. J.; Kallio, E.; Fedorov, A. +44 more
The neutral particle detector (NPD) on board Mars Express has observed energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) from a broad region on the dayside of the martian upper atmosphere. We show one such example for which the observation was conducted at an altitude of 570 km, just above the induced magnetosphere boundary (IMB). The time of flight spectra of these…
Mapping of Titan: Results from the first Titan radar passes
Lorenz, R. D.; Soderblom, L. A.; Stiles, B. +33 more
The first two swaths collected by Cassini's Titan Radar Mapper were obtained in October of 2004 (Ta) and February of 2005 (T3). The Ta swath provides evidence for cryovolcanic processes, the possible occurrence of fluvial channels and lakes, and some tectonic activity. The T3 swath has extensive areas of dunes and two large impact craters. We inte…
On the orbits and masses of the satellites of the Pluto Charon system
Lee, Man Hoi; Peale, S. J.
Two small satellites of Pluto, S/2005 P1 (hereafter P1) and S/2005 P2 (hereafter P2), have recently been discovered outside the orbit of Charon, and their orbits are nearly circular and nearly coplanar with that of Charon. Because the mass ratio of Charon-Pluto is ∼0.1, the orbits of P2 and P1 are significantly non-Keplerian even if P2 and P1 have…
Ionospheric plasma acceleration at Mars: ASPERA-3 results
Coates, A. J.; Kallio, E.; Fedorov, A. +42 more
The Analyzer of Space Plasma and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA) on-board the Mars Express spacecraft (MEX) measured penetrating solar wind plasma and escaping/accelerated ionospheric plasma at very low altitudes (250 km) in the dayside subsolar region. This implies a direct exposure of the martian topside atmosphere to solar wind plasma forcing leading …
A strong vortex in Saturn's South Pole
Hueso, R.; Sánchez-Lavega, A.; Rojas, J. F. +1 more
Saturn's southern pole was observed at high resolution by the Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) during the spacecraft insertion orbit in July 2004. Cloud tracking of individual features on images taken at a wavelength of 938 nm reveal the existence of a strong polar vortex enclosed by a jet with maximum speed of 160±10 ms relative to System …
Experimental and theoretical study of hydrocarbon photochemistry applied to Titan stratosphere
Vuitton, V.; Raulin, F.; Doussin, J. -F. +2 more
None of the Titan photochemical models currently available have been able to reproduce the full set of stratospheric molecular mixing ratios inferred from observations. In order to assess how well reaction sets describe hydrocarbon chemistry, theoretical modeling predictions were compared to the results of a laboratory experiment. A CH 4
Observations of magnetic anomaly signatures in Mars Express ASPERA-3 ELS data
Coates, A. J.; Kallio, E.; Fedorov, A. +40 more
Mars Express (MEX) Analyser of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA-3) data is providing insights into atmospheric loss on Mars via the solar wind interaction. This process is influenced by both the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) in the solar wind and by the magnetic 'anomaly' regions of the martian crust. We analyse observations from th…
First ENA observations at Mars: Subsolar ENA jet
Coates, A. J.; Kallio, E.; Fedorov, A. +43 more
The Neutral Particle Detector (NPD), an Energetic Neutral Atom (ENA) sensor of the Analyzer of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA-3) on board Mars Express, detected intense fluxes of ENAs emitted from the subsolar region of Mars. The typical ENA fluxes are (4-7) × 10 5 cm -2 sr -1 s -1 in the ener…
Rotationally-resolved spectroscopy of Vesta I: 2 4 µm region
McFadden, L. A.; Rivkin, A. S.; Binzel, R. P. +1 more
We present new infrared (2-4 µm) spectroscopic observations of Vesta obtained in 2001, 2003, and 2004. Together with previously published work, these present a picture of how Vesta's spectrum changes with sub-Earth latitude and longitude. Vesta's albedo and 2-µm band vary regularly with its rotational phase. While establishing the cont…