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Titan's prolific propane: The Cassini CIRS perspective
Irwin, P. G. J.; Teanby, N. A.; Flasar, F. M. +7 more
Although propane gas ( C3H8) was first detected in the stratosphere of Titan by the Voyager IRIS infrared spectrometer in 1980, obtaining an accurate measurement of its abundance has proved difficult. All existing measurements have been made by modeling the ν26 band at 748cm-1: however, different analyze…
Thermally driven atmospheric escape: Monte Carlo simulations for Titan's atmosphere
Johnson, R. E.; Tucker, Orenthal J.
Recent models of Titan's upper atmosphere were used to reproduce the Cassini measurements of the density vs. altitude by allowing a net upward flow at the exobase. Large mass flow rates were extracted and interpreted due to thermally driven escape to space at a rate that is orders of magnitude larger than the Jeans escape rate. This process is ref…
Characteristics of charged dust inferred from the Cassini RPWS measurements in the vicinity of Enceladus
Gurnett, D. A.; Kurth, W. S.; Wahlund, J. -E. +6 more
The data obtained by the Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument during the shallow (17.02.2005) and the steep (14.07.2005) crossings of the E-ring revealed a considerable electron depletion in proximity to Enceladus's orbit (the difference between the ion and electron densities can reach ∼70cm-3). Assuming that this dep…
Dayglow on Mars: Kinetic modelling with SPICAM UV limb data
Bertaux, J. -L.; Leblanc, F.; Witasse, O. +2 more
The UV spectrometer experiment SPICAM onboard ESA Mars Express has been orbiting Mars since December 2003. We present here some comparisons between airglow data that have been newly interpreted with the advanced kinetic model Trans-Mars. A series of numerical one-dimensional kinetic models, in the Trans-* family [Lilensten, J., Blelly. P.L., 2002.…
The variability of Titan's magnetic environment
Dougherty, M. K.; Bertucci, C.; Arridge, C. S. +3 more
With a mean orbital radius of 20.2 Saturnian radii (1 Saturn radius RS=60,330 km), Titan is usually located within the kronian magnetosphere. 3.5 years of Cassini magnetometer observations in the vicinity of Titan's orbit reveal that the moon's magnetic environment is strongly affected by the presence of Saturn's magnetodisk. As a resul…
The plasma interaction of Enceladus: 3D hybrid simulations and comparison with Cassini MAG data
Dougherty, M. K.; Saur, J.; Glassmeier, K. -H. +4 more
We study the interaction of Saturn's small, icy moon Enceladus and its plume with the corotating magnetospheric plasma by means of a 3D hybrid simulation model, which treats the ions as individual particles and the electrons as a massless, charge-neutralizing fluid. We analyze systematically how Enceladus' internal conductivity and plasma absorpti…
The Saturn hydrogen plume
Liu, X.; Shemansky, D. E.; Melin, H.
Images of the Saturn atmosphere and magnetosphere in H Lyα emission during the Cassini spacecraft pre and post Saturn orbit insertion (SOI) event obtained using the UVIS experiment FUV spectrograph have revealed definitive evidence for the escape of H I atoms from the top of the thermosphere. An image at 0.1×0.1 Saturn equatorial radii ( RS
Structure of Titan's ionosphere: Model comparisons with Cassini data
Coates, A. J.; Ågren, K.; Waite, J. H. +9 more
Solar extreme ultraviolet and X-ray radiation and energetic plasma from Saturn's magnetosphere interact with the upper atmosphere producing an ionosphere at Titan. The highly coupled ionosphere and upper atmosphere system mediates the interaction between Titan and the external environment. New insights into Titan's ionosphere are being facilitated…
Energetic particles in Saturn's magnetosphere during the Cassini nominal mission (July 2004-July 2008)
Livi, S.; Krupp, N.; Woch, J. +13 more
In July 2004 the Cassini spacecraft began its orbital tour in the Saturnian system and performed 74 orbits during the nominal mission (July 2004-July 2008) providing data from nearly all local times at various distances and latitudes relative to the planet. The particles and field instruments onboard the spacecraft were essentially operating conti…
Cassini evidence for rapid interchange transport at Saturn
André, N.; Persoon, A. M.; Coates, A. J. +10 more
During its tour Cassini has observed numerous plasma injection events in Saturn's inner magnetosphere. Here, we present a case study of one "young" plasma bubble observed when Cassini was in the equatorial plane. The bubble was observed in the equatorial plane at ∼7 Saturn radii from Saturn and had a maximum azimuthal extent of ∼0.25 Rs (Rs=Saturn…