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Response of Jupiter's and Saturn's auroral activity to the solar wind
Crary, F.; Cecconi, B.; Lamy, L. +18 more
While the terrestrial aurorae are known to be driven primarily by the interaction of the Earth's magnetosphere with the solar wind, there is considerable evidence that auroral emissions on Jupiter and Saturn are driven primarily by internal processes, with the main energy source being the planets' rapid rotation. Prior observations have suggested …
Energetic ion spectral characteristics in the Saturnian magnetosphere using Cassini/MIMI measurements
Krupp, N.; Krimigis, S. M.; Mitchell, D. G. +3 more
We report sample results on Saturn magnetospheric energetic ion spectral shapes using measurements obtained from the Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI) suite onboard Cassini. The ion intensities are measured by the Charge Energy Mass Spectrometer (CHEMS) that covers the energy range of 3 to 236 keV/e, the Low Energy Magnetospheric Measuremen…
An auroral oval at the footprint of Saturn's kilometric radio sources, colocated with the UV aurorae
Cecconi, B.; Lamy, L.; Nichols, J. D. +3 more
Similarly to other magnetized planets, Saturn displays auroral emissions generated by accelerated electrons gyrating around high-latitude magnetic field lines. They mainly divide in ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) aurorae, excited by electron collisions with the upper atmosphere, and Saturn's kilometric radiation (SKR), radiated from higher alt…
Ion conics and electron beams associated with auroral processes on Saturn
Krupp, N.; Dougherty, M. K.; Hospodarsky, G. B. +7 more
Ion conics accompanied by electron beams are observed regularly in Saturn's magnetosphere. The beams and conics are seen throughout the outer magnetosphere, on field lines that nominally map from well into the polar cap (Ldipole > 50) to well into the closed field region (Ldipole < 10). The electron beams and ion conics…
Energetic particle pressure in Saturn's magnetosphere measured with the Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument on Cassini
Krupp, N.; Dougherty, M. K.; Krimigis, S. M. +5 more
The Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument on board Cassini has been providing measurements of energetic ion intensities, energy spectra, and ion composition, combining the Charge Energy Mass Spectrometer over the range 3 to 236 keV/e, the Low Energy Magnetospheric Measurements System for ions in the range 0.024 to 18 MeV, and the Ion and Neutral Camer…
Goniopolarimetric study of the revolution 29 perikrone using the Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Science instrument high-frequency radio receiver
Kurth, W. S.; Cecconi, B.; Lamy, L. +3 more
We present goniopolarimetric (also known as direction finding) results of the Saturn kilometric radiation (SKR), using the Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Science instrument high-frequency radio receiver data. Tools to retrieve the characteristics of the SKR sources have been developed that allow us to measure their 3-D location and beaming angle re…
On the character and distribution of lower-frequency radio emissions at Saturn and their relationship to substorm-like events
Dougherty, M. K.; Jackman, C. M.; Kurth, W. S. +5 more
With the arrival of the Cassini spacecraft at Saturn in July 2004, there have been quasi-continuous observations of Saturn kilometric radiation (SKR) emissions. Exploration of the nightside magnetosphere has revealed evidence of plasmoid-like magnetic structures and other phenomena indicative of the Kronian equivalent of terrestrial substorms. In …
Diurnal variations of Titan's ionosphere
Wahlund, J. -E.; Galand, M.; Waite, J. H. +7 more
We present our analysis of the diurnal variations of Titan's ionosphere (between 1000 and 1300 km) based on a sample of Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) measurements in the Open Source Ion (OSI) mode obtained from eight close encounters of the Cassini spacecraft with Titan. Although there is an overall ion depletion well beyond the terminator,…
Midlatitude and high-latitude electron density profiles in the ionosphere of Saturn obtained by Cassini radio occultation observations
Nagy, A. F.; Kliore, A. J.; Marouf, E. A. +4 more
Nineteen new radio occultations of the ionosphere of Saturn have been obtained since 2006. Sixteen of these occultations were from midlatitude and high latitudes and thus provided important, new information of the ionosphere for these regions. A high degree of variability in the electron densities were observed, but grouping and averaging the obse…
Source locations of narrowband radio emissions detected at Saturn
Gurnett, D. A.; Hospodarsky, G. B.; Kurth, W. S. +7 more
Since Cassini's arrival at Saturn in 2004, the Radio and Plasma Wave Science instrument has detected numerous narrowband (NB) radio emission events. These emissions, mostly detected around 5 and 20 kHz, usually occur periodically for several days after intensifications of Saturn kilometric radiation. We present calculations based on an electron de…