Search Publications
HST/WFC3 observations of Uranus' 2014 storm clouds and comparison with VLT/SINFONI and IRTF/Spex observations
Wong, Michael H.; Irwin, Patrick G. J.; Orton, G. S. +2 more
In November 2014 Uranus was observed with the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) instrument of the Hubble Space Telescope as part of the Hubble 2020: Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy program, OPAL. OPAL annually maps Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune (and will also map Saturn from 2018) in several visible/near-infrared wavelength filters. The Uranus 2014 OPAL ob…
Similarity of the Jovian satellite footprints: Spots multiplicity and dynamics
Saur, J.; Badman, S. V.; Bonfond, B. +3 more
In the magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn, the intense interaction of the satellites Io, Europa, Ganymede and Enceladus with their surrounding plasma environment leaves a signature in the aurora of the planet. Called satellite footprints, these auroral features appear either as a single spot (Europa and Enceladus) or as multiple spots (Io and Ga…
Overview of useful spectral regions for Venus: An update to encourage observations complementary to the Akatsuki mission
Sánchez-Lavega, A.; Widemann, T.; Imamura, T. +5 more
New tables to observe the planet Venus are presented with detailed information about the main spectral regions from 100 nm to 1 mm. The information hereby is updated thanks to the Venus Express legacy and recent ground-based observations, and we hope it can constitute a helpful tool for professional and amateur observers willing to support and coo…
The Mars diffuse aurora: A model of ultraviolet and visible emissions
Gérard, J. -C.; Soret, L.; Shematovich, V. I. +2 more
A new type of Martian aurora, characterized by an extended spatial distribution, an altitude lower than the discrete aurora and electron precipitation up to 200 keV has been observed following solar activity on several occasions from the MAVEN spacecraft. We describe the results of Monte Carlo simulations of the production of several ultraviolet a…
Statistical study of Saturn's auroral electron properties with Cassini/UVIS FUV spectral images
Lamy, L.; Grodent, D.; Radioti, A. +3 more
About 2000 FUV spectra of different regions of Saturn's aurora, obtained with Cassini/UVIS from December 2007 to October 2014 have been examined. Two methods have been employed to determine the mean energy <;E> of the precipitating electrons. The first is based on the absorption of the auroral emission by hydrocarbons and the second uses the…
Cassini ISS observation of Saturn's north polar vortex and comparison to the south polar vortex
Dyudina, Ulyana A.; Ingersoll, Andrew P.; Ewald, Shawn P. +2 more
We present analyses of Saturn's north pole using high-resolution images captured in late 2012 by the Cassini spacecraft's Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) camera. The images reveal the presence of an intense cyclonic vortex centered at the north pole. In the red and green visible continuum wavelengths, the north polar region exhibits a cyclonically…
Neptune long-lived atmospheric features in 2013-2015 from small (28-cm) to large (10-m) telescopes
Hueso, R.; Sánchez-Lavega, A.; Rojas, J. F. +32 more
Since 2013, observations of Neptune with small telescopes (28-50 cm) have resulted in several detections of long-lived bright atmospheric features that have also been observed by large telescopes such as Keck II or Hubble. The combination of both types of images allows the study of the long-term evolution of major cloud systems in the planet. In 2…
The effect of asymmetric surface topography on dust dynamics on airless bodies
Horányi, M.; Piquette, M.
Without a significant atmosphere or global magnetic field, the lunar surface is exposed to micrometeoroid bombardment, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and the solar wind. Micrometeoroid bombardment grinds the surface into a regolith comprised of dust grains ranging in size from 10 nm to 1 mm (Grün et al., 2011). Incident UV radiation and solar wind el…
Brittle ice shell thickness of Enceladus from fracture distribution analysis
Cremonese, G.; Massironi, M.; Lucchetti, A. +2 more
We determine the depth of fracture penetration in multiple regions of Enceladus by performing self-similar clustering and length distribution analysis of fractures. The statistical characterization of fault-population attribute, such as length and clustering, provide a productive avenue for exploring deformation rate, stress transmission mode, rhe…
Geology and mineralogy of the Auki Crater, Tyrrhena Terra, Mars: A possible post impact-induced hydrothermal system
Bellucci, G.; Carrozzo, F. G.; Altieri, F. +2 more
A variety of hydrothermal environments have been documented in terrestrial impact structures. Due to both past water interactions and meteoritic bombardment on the surface of Mars, several authors have predicted various scenarios that include the formation of hydrothermal systems. Geological and mineralogical evidence of past hydrothermal activity…