Search Publications
A test of general relativity using radio links with the Cassini spacecraft
Iess, L.; Tortora, P.; Bertotti, B.
According to general relativity, photons are deflected and delayed by the curvature of space-time produced by any mass. The bending and delay are proportional to γ + 1, where the parameter γ is unity in general relativity but zero in the newtonian model of gravity. The quantity γ - 1 measures the degree to which gravity is not a purely geometric e…
Cassini Imaging of Jupiter's Atmosphere, Satellites, and Rings
Dones, Luke; West, Robert A.; Porco, Carolyn C. +21 more
The Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem acquired about 26,000 images of the Jupiter system as the spacecraft encountered the giant planet en route to Saturn. We report findings on Jupiter's zonal winds, convective storms, low-latitude upper troposphere, polar stratosphere, and northern aurora. We also describe previously unseen emissions arising fro…
Observations with the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) during Cassini's flyby of Jupiter
Sotin, C.; Brown, R. H.; Baines, K. H. +24 more
The Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) is an imaging spectrometer covering the wavelength range 0.3-5.2 µm in 352 spectral channels, with a nominal instantaneous field of view of 0.5 mrad. The Cassini flyby of Jupiter represented a unique opportunity to accomplish two important goals: scientific observations of the jovia…
Cassini between Venus and Earth: Detection of interstellar dust
Dikarev, V.; Kempf, S.; Krüger, H. +5 more
We report the successful in situ measurement of interstellar dust particles inside the orbit of the Earth with the Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) on the Cassini spacecraft. The impact ionization subsystem of the CDA is similar to the instruments on Ulysses and Galileo. As the heliocentric velocity and the direction of the interstellar dust flux are we…
Cassini RADAR: prospects for Titan surface investigations using the microwave radiometer
Lorenz, Ralph D.; West, Richard D.; Janssen, Michael A. +3 more
The Radar instrument on the Cassini spacecraft can be used in a passive radiometric mode to map the microwave emission from Titan: these will be the first resolved microwave emission measurements of an icy satellite. Observation plans and the theory for their interpretation is presented: these data should be able to provide crude composition maps …
Impact of aerosols present in Titan's atmosphere on the CASSINI radar experiment
Rodriguez, S.; Encrenaz, P.; Dobrijevic, M. +4 more
Simulations of Titan's atmospheric transmission and surface reflectivity have been developed in order to estimate how Titan's atmosphere and surface properties could affect performances of the Cassini radar experiment. In this paper we present a selection of models for Titan's haze, vertical rain distribution, and surface composition implemented i…
Cassini plasma spectrometer measurements of Jovian bow shock structure
Dougherty, Michele K.; Gurnett, Donald A.; Coates, Andrew J. +9 more
The Cassini spacecraft on its way to Saturn flew by Jupiter and crossed its bow shock more than forty times on the dusk-side of the planet, whereas the early missions targeting Jupiter explored the dawnside. Here we report the first results concerning these bow shock crossings, based on the measurements of the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS), t…
First evidence of IMF control of Jovian magnetospheric boundary locations: Cassini and Galileo magnetic field measurements compared
Kivelson, Margaret G.; Southwood, David J.
The Cassini spacecraft, en route to Saturn, passed close to Jupiter while the Galileo spacecraft was completing its 28th and 29th orbits of Jupiter, thus offering a unique opportunity for direct study of the solar wind-Jovian interaction. Here evidence is given of response of the Jovian magnetopause and bow shock positions to changes of the north-…
Modeling radio emission attenuation lanes observed by the Galileo and Cassini spacecraft
Gurnett, D. A.; Hospodarsky, G. B.; Kurth, W. S. +3 more
The Cassini gravity-assisted flyby of Jupiter provided an opportunity to investigate radio emission attenuation lanes that were previously observed in the Voyager and Galileo data. The Cassini radio and plasma wave science (RPWS) investigation is the most advanced plasma wave instrument to visit the Jovian system, measuring electric fields over th…
Cassini-VIMS at Jupiter: solar occultation measurements using Io
Sotin, C.; Brown, R. H.; Baines, K. H. +24 more
We report unusual and somewhat unexpected observations of the jovian satellite Io, showing strong methane absorption bands. These observations were made by the Cassini VIMS experiment during the Jupiter flyby of December/January 2000/2001. The explanation is straightforward: Entering or exiting from Jupiter's shadow during an eclipse, Io is illumi…