Search Publications
Physical Properties and Galactic Distribution of Molecular Clouds Identified in the Galactic Ring Survey
Jackson, James M.; Roman-Duval, Julia; Heyer, Mark +2 more
We derive the physical properties of 580 molecular clouds based on their 12CO and 13CO line emission detected in the University of Massachusetts-Stony Brook (UMSB) and Galactic Ring surveys. We provide a range of values of the physical properties of molecular clouds, and find a power-law correlation between their radii and ma…
Survey of ion plasma parameters in Saturn's magnetosphere
Thomsen, M. F.; Tokar, R. L.; Reisenfeld, D. B. +6 more
A survey of the bulk plasma ion properties observed by the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer instrument over roughly the first 4.5 years of its mission in orbit around Saturn is presented. The moments (density, temperature, and flow velocity) of the plasma distributions below 50 keV have been computed by numerical integration of the observed counts in t…
Gravity Field, Shape, and Moment of Inertia of Titan
Stevenson, David J.; Iess, Luciano; Jacobson, Robert A. +5 more
Precise radio tracking of the spacecraft Cassini has provided a determination of Titan’s mass and gravity harmonics to degree 3. The quadrupole field is consistent with a hydrostatically relaxed body shaped by tidal and rotational effects. The inferred moment of inertia factor is about 0.34, implying incomplete differentiation, either in the sense…
Sizes, shapes, and derived properties of the saturnian satellites after the Cassini nominal mission
Thomas, P. C.
The Cassini spacecraft has provided data on over twenty satellites orbiting Saturn. In this study we update the shape measurements derived from imaging data of nearly all the observed regular satellites (those with low eccentricities and inclinations) and briefly discuss some of the implications of their properties. In particular, the improved dat…
Analysis of Cassini/CIRS limb spectra of Titan acquired during the nominal mission. I. Hydrocarbons, nitriles and CO 2 vertical mixing ratio profiles
Bézard, Bruno; Vinatier, Sandrine; Nixon, Conor A. +8 more
Observations of the Composite InfraRed Spectrometer (CIRS) during the entire nominal Cassini mission (2004-2008) provide us with an accurate global view of composition and temperature in the middle atmosphere of Titan (between 100 and 500 km). We investigated limb spectra acquired at 0.5cm resolution at nine different latitudes between 56°S and 80…
A new form of Saturn's magnetopause using a dynamic pressure balance model, based on in situ, multi-instrument Cassini measurements
Coates, A. J.; Krupp, N.; Dougherty, M. K. +9 more
The shape and location of a planetary magnetopause can be determined by balancing the solar wind dynamic pressure with the magnetic and thermal pressures found inside the boundary. Previous studies have found the kronian magnetosphere to show rigidity (like that of Earth) as well as compressibility (like that of Jupiter) in terms of its dynamics. …
Titan trace gaseous composition from CIRS at the end of the Cassini-Huygens prime mission
Teanby, N. A.; Flasar, F. M.; Lavvas, P. +10 more
This paper reports on the results from an extensive study of all nadir-looking spectra acquired by Cassini/CIRS during the 44 flybys performed in the course of the nominal mission (2004-2008). With respect to the previous study (Coustenis, A., and 24 colleagues [2007]. Icarus 189, 35-62, on flybys TB-T10) we present here a significantly richer dat…
How the Enceladus dust plume feeds Saturn’s E ring
Schmidt, Jürgen; Kempf, Sascha; Beckmann, Uwe
Pre-Cassini models of Saturn's E ring [Horányi, M., Burns, J., Hamilton, D., 1992. Icarus 97, 248-259; Juhász, A., Horányi, M., 2002. J. Geophys. Res. 107, 1-10] failed to reproduce its peculiar vertical structure inferred from Earth-bound observations [de Pater, I., Martin, S.C., Showalter, M.R., 2004. Icarus 172, 446-454]. After the discovery of…
Impact craters on Titan
Cassini Radar Team; Wood, Charles A.; Lorenz, Ralph +4 more
Five certain impact craters and 44 additional nearly certain and probable ones have been identified on the 22% of Titan's surface imaged by Cassini's high-resolution radar through December 2007. The certain craters have morphologies similar to impact craters on rocky planets, as well as two with radar bright, jagged rims. The less certain craters …
Detection and mapping of hydrocarbon deposits on Titan
Nicholson, Philip D.; Sotin, Christophe; Barnes, Jason W. +13 more
We report the identification of compounds on Titan's surface by spatially resolved imaging spectroscopy methods through Titan's atmosphere, and set upper limits to other organic compounds. We present evidence for surface deposits of solid benzene (C6H6), solid and/or liquid ethane (C2H6), or methane (CH<…