Search Publications
Fully 3-dimensional calculations of dust mantle formation for a model of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Rosenberg, Eric D.; Prialnik, Dina
A fully 3-dimensional implicit numerical model for comet nucleus evolution is presented, emphasizing dust mantle formation. A spherical configuration is considered with an initial composition of amorphous H 2O ice and dust, taking into account a discrete dust-grain size distribution. The model is applied to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimen…
A redetermination of the ice/vapor ratio of Enceladus’ plumes: Implications for sublimation and the lack of a liquid water reservoir
Kieffer, Susan W.; Lu, Xinli; McFarquhar, Greg +1 more
The discovery of plumes of H 2O vapor and ice particles erupting from the south pole of Enceladus, the tiny frigid satellite of Saturn, sparked controversy over whether these plumes are produced by boiling, or by sublimation with subsequent recondensation of the sublimated vapor [Porco, C.C., Helfenstein, P., Thomas, P.C., Ingersoll, A.…
Paleolakes, paleofloods, and depressions in Aurorae and Ophir Plana, Mars: Connectivity of surface and subsurface hydrological systems
Di Achille, Gaetano; Komatsu, Goro; Rossi, Angelo Pio +3 more
The plains of Aurorae and Ophir in the equatorial region of Mars display geomorphic evidence indicative of extensive but generally short-lived paleohydrological processes. Elaver Vallis in Aurorae Planum south of Ganges Chasma is an outflow channel system >180 km long, and here inferred to have formed by cataclysmic spillover flooding from a pa…
The jovian anticyclone BA. I. Motions and interaction with the GRS from observations and non-linear simulations
Hueso, R.; Sánchez-Lavega, A.; García-Melendo, E. +5 more
A study of the dynamics of the second largest anticyclone in Jupiter, Oval BA, and its red colour change that occurred in late 2005 is presented in a three part study. The first part, this paper, deals with its long-term kinematical and dynamical behaviour monitored since its formation in 2000 to September 2008 using ground-based observations arch…
Grooves on small saturnian satellites and other objects: Characteristics and significance
Burns, Joseph A.; Morrison, Sarah J.; Thomas, Peter C. +2 more
High-resolution images from the Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) show parallel sets of grooves on Epimetheus and Pandora. Grooves have previously been observed on other satellites and asteroids, including Phobos, Gaspra, Ida, Eros, and minor occurrences on Phoebe. Sets of parallel grooves are so far observed only on satellites known or like…
On 2 1.27 µm emission maps as derived from OMEGA/MEx data
Bibring, J. -P.; Gondet, B.; Bellucci, G. +4 more
We present a method to derive the 2D maps of the O 2 (a 1Δg) airglow emission at 1.27 µm from the OMEGA/MEx nadir observations. The OMEGA imaging capabilities allow monitoring the 2D distribution, daily and seasonal variation of the O 2 emission intensities with a detection limit of 4 MR. The highe…
Seasonal variations of photochemical tracers at low and middle latitudes on Mars: Observations and models
Krasnopolsky, Vladimir A.
Mars Express observations give ozone abundances that are smaller than those from the ground-based infrared heterodyne and HST observations at low and middle latitudes. Both ground-based and Mars Express observations of the O 2 dayglow at 1.27 µm, which originates from photolysis of ozone, are in mutual agreement after correction f…
Brightness power spectral distribution and waves in Jupiter's upper cloud and hazes
Sánchez-Lavega, A.; Pérez-Hoyos, S.; Barrado-Izagirre, N.
In this work we analyze the spatial structure of Jupiter's cloud reflectivity field in order to determine brightness periodicities and power spectra characteristics together with their relationship with Jupiter's dynamics and turbulence. The research is based on images obtained in the near-infrared (∼ 950 nm), blue (∼ 430 nm) and near-ultraviolet …
Seasonal photometric variability of Titan, 1972-2006
Lockwood, G. W.; Thompson, D. T.
Measurements at Lowell Observatory of Titan in the b (472 nm) and y (551 nm) filters of the Strömgren photometric system at thirty four consecutive apparitions (282 nights) from 1971/72 to 2006 show a 10% sinusoidal variation that lags seasonal extremes by about 1/8 of a Titan year. The seasonal variations are asymmetric: the autumn lightcurve max…
Organizing some very tenuous things: Resonant structures in Saturn's faint rings
Hedman, M. M.; Burns, J. A.; Porco, C. C. +1 more
Images of the dusty rings obtained by the Cassini spacecraft in late 2006 and early 2007 reveal unusual structures composed of alternating canted bright and dark streaks in the outer G ring (∼170,000 km from Saturn center), the inner Roche Division (∼138,000 km) and the middle D ring (70,000-73,000 km). The morphology, locations and pattern speeds…