HR: 14:10h
AN: P23D-03 INVITED [Abstracts]
TI: Observations of Saturn's Atmosphere and Auroras by Cassini UVIS and VIMS
AU: * Pryor, W R
EM: waynepryor@centralaz.edu
AF: Central Arizona College, 8470 N. Overfield Rd., Coolidge, AZ 85228
United States
AU: Baines, K
EM: kevin.h.baines@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91109
United States
AU: West, R
EM: robert.a.west@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91109
United States
AU: Ajello, J
EM: joseph.m.ajello@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91109
United States
AU: Hansen, C
EM: candice.j.hansen@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91109
United States
AU: Stewart, I
EM: ian.stewart@lasp.colorado.edu
AF: LASP/University of Colorado, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, CO 80303
United States
AU: Esposito, L
EM: larry.esposito@lasp.colorado.edu
AF: LASP/University of Colorado, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, CO 80303
United States
AU: Colwell, J
EM: josh.colwell@lasp.colorado.edu
AF: LASP/University of Colorado, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, CO 80303
United States
AU: McClintock, W
EM: bill.mcclintock@lasp.colorado.edu
AF: LASP/University of Colorado, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, CO 80303
United States
AU: Jouchoux, A
EM: alain.jouchoux@lasp.colorado.edu
AF: LASP/University of Colorado, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, CO 80303
United States
AU: Shemansky, D
EM: dons@hippolyta.usc.edu
AF: University of Southern California, 854 West 36th Pl., Los Angeles, CA 90089
United States
AU: Hallett, J T
EM: jtew@usc.edu
AF: University of Southern California, 854 West 36th Pl., Los Angeles, CA 90089
United States
AU: Crary, F
EM: fcrary@swri.edu
AF: Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Rd., San Antonio, TX 78228
United States
AU: Kurth, W
EM: william-kurth@uiowa.edu
AF: University of Iowa, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa City, IA 52242
United States
AU: Clarke, J
EM: jclarke@bu.edu
AF: Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215
United States
AU: Gustin, J
EM: j.gustin@ulg.ac.be
AF: University of Liege, Allee du 6 Aout Sart Tilman, Liege, B4000
Belgium
AU: Grodent, D
EM: d.grodent@ulg.ac.be
AF: University of Liege, Allee du 6 Aout Sart Tilman, Liege, B4000
Belgium
AU: Gerard, J
EM: jc.gerard@ulg.ac.be
AF: University of Liege, Allee du 6 Aout Sart Tilman, Liege, B4000
Belgium
AU: Bunce, E
EM: ejb10@ion.le.ac.uk
AF: University of Leicester, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Leicester, LE1 7RH
United Kingdom
AU: Drossart, P
EM: pierre.drossart@obspm.fr
AF: Observatory de Paris, LESIA, Meudon, Cedex, 92190
France
AB:
Cassini's Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) has completed a year of study of Saturn's atmosphere and auroras. Two long
slit spectral channels are used to obtain EUV data from 56.3-118.2 nm and FUV data from 111.5-191.3 nm. 64 spatial pixels
along each slit are combined with slit motion to build up spectral images of Saturn, with sufficient spatial resolution to
reveal Saturn's auroral oval. Saturn images include evidence for rapid auroral variations and polar UV-dark regions mostly
inside the auroral ovals. Absorption bands of acetylene are clearly seen in the reflected sunlight spectrum. The auroral
emission spectrum is similar to that of Jupiter, showing H2 band emission and H Lyman-alpha emission. Saturn's auroral,
dayglow, and nightglow spectra show significant differences. Saturn's aurora is observed to vary in brightness by at least a
factor of four. The brightest auroral emissions seen so far occurred after 2004 day 207 19:30 when Cassini CAPS and MAG
recorded passage of a solar wind shock. The enhanced auroral brightness persisted for days, and is seen at both poles of
Saturn. Cassini RPWS observed enhanced auroral kilometric emissions during several auroral brightening events seen by UVIS.
A campaign of Hubble Space Telescope UV imaging with ACS (Advanced Camera for Surveys) of Saturn's dayside southern auroral
zone took place on 2005 February 17. Cassini UVIS and VIMS observed Saturn's nightside northern aurora during this period.
The UVIS long slit was aligned with lines of latitude on Saturn, providing information about intensity and spectral
variations along the auroral oval. Cassini VIMS has now obtained an initial image and spectrum of Saturn's H3}+
auroral emissions.
DE: 5700 PLANETARY SCIENCES: FLUID PLANETS
DE: 5704 Atmospheres (0343, 1060)
DE: 5706 Aurorae
DE: 5737 Magnetospheres (2756)
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005