Search Publications
HST-STIS spectra and the redness of Saturn's rings
French, Richard G.; Cuzzi, Jeffrey N.; Hendrix, Amanda R. +3 more
We have observed the main rings of Saturn with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrometer (STIS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), covering the spectral region from 180-570 nm (including for the first time the critical near-UV range 190-340 nm) with very good signal to noise ratio and a radial resolution of approximately 160-330 km. After correct…
A depth versus diameter scaling relationship for the best-preserved melt-bearing complex craters on Mars
Tornabene, Livio L.; Osinski, Gordon R.; Harrison, Tanya N. +4 more
We use topographic data to show that impact craters with pitted floor deposits are among the deepest on Mars. This is consistent with the interpretation of pitted materials as primary crater-fill impactite deposits emplaced during crater formation. Our database consists of 224 pitted material craters ranging in size from ∼1 to 150 km in diameter. …
Comet 67p/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, possible origin of the depression Hatmehit
Czechowski, Leszek; Kossacki, Konrad J.
On the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko numerous pits and depressions of different sizes are identified. In the present work the origin of depression Hatmehit is investigated. We propose a mechanism that includes recession of the surface due to sub-dust sublimation together with formation of cavities. Recession of the surface is calculat…
Mapping polar atmospheric features on Titan with VIMS: From the dissipation of the northern cloud to the onset of a southern polar vortex
Le Mouélic, S.; Cornet, T.; Rodriguez, S. +11 more
We have analyzed the complete archive of the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) data in order to monitor and analyze the evolution of the clouds and haze coverage at both poles of Titan during the entire Cassini mission. Our objective is to give a cartographic synopsis from a VIMS perspective, to provide a global view of the seasonal …
Haze and cloud structure of Saturn's North Pole and Hexagon Wave from Cassini/ISS imaging
Sánchez-Lavega, A.; Antuñano, A.; Pérez-Hoyos, S. +2 more
In this paper we present a study of the vertical haze and cloud structure in the upper two bars of Saturn's Northern Polar atmosphere using the Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) instrument onboard the Cassini spacecraft. We focus on the characterization of latitudes from 53° to 90° N. The observations were taken during June 2013 with five different …
Water production activity of nine long-period comets from SOHO/SWAN observations of hydrogen Lyman-alpha: 2013-2016
Bertaux, J. -L.; Combi, M. R.; Quémerais, E. +4 more
Nine recently discovered long-period comets were observed by the Solar Wind Anisotropies (SWAN) Lyman-alpha all-sky camera on board the Solar and Heliosphere Observatory (SOHO) satellite during the period of 2013 to 2016. These were C/2012 K1 (PanSTARRS), C/2013 US10 (Catalina), C/2013 V5 (Oukaimeden), C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy), C/2014 E2 (Jacques), C/2…
Spatial variations in Titan's atmospheric temperature: ALMA and Cassini comparisons from 2012 to 2015
Irwin, P. G. J.; Achterberg, R. K.; Nixon, C. A. +7 more
Submillimeter emission lines of carbon monoxide (CO) in Titan's atmosphere provide excellent probes of atmospheric temperature due to the molecule's long chemical lifetime and stable, well constrained volume mixing ratio. Here we present the analysis of 4 datasets obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) in 2012, 2013,…
Spatial variations in the dust-to-gas ratio of Enceladus' plume
Nicholson, P. D.; Hansen, C. J.; Hedman, M. M. +4 more
On day 138 of 2010, the plume of dust and gas emerging from Enceladus' South Polar Terrain passed between the Sun and the Cassini spacecraft. This solar occultation enabled Cassini's Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) and the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) to obtain simultaneous measurements of the plume's gas and dust compon…
Mesospheric CO2 ice clouds on Mars observed by Planetary Fourier Spectrometer onboard Mars Express
Aoki, S.; Kasaba, Y.; Giuranna, M. +4 more
We have investigated mesospheric CO2 ice clouds on Mars through analysis of near-infrared spectra acquired by Planetary Fourier Spectrometer (PFS) onboard the Mars Express (MEx) from MY 27 to MY 32. With the highest spectral resolution achieved thus far in the relevant spectral range among remote-sensing experiments orbiting Mars, PFS e…
Mapping spiral waves and other radial features in Saturn's rings
Tiscareno, Matthew S.; Harris, Brent E.
We have analyzed the highest-quality images to be obtained by Cassini of Saturn's main rings after the Saturn Orbit Insertion (SOI) and before the Ring Grazing Orbits (RGO) and Grand Finale (GF). These images are comparable to those of SOI in fidelity, though not in nominal resolution, due to their high signal-to-noise. We have systematically sear…