Imaging Saturn's Equinoctal Auroras

Details Imaging Saturn's Equinoctal Auroras Imaging Saturn's Equinoctal Auroras

Jul 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008hst..prop11566n&link_type=abstract

HST Proposal ID #11566. Cycle 17

Physics

Scientific paper

Auroral emissions provide an indispensable diagnostic tool for the energetic processes occurring in planetary magnetospheres. In 2009 Saturn will reach equinox for the first time since the advent of high-sensitivity planetary ultraviolet {UV} auroral imaging, offering a unique, transient opportunity to observe both polar auroral regions simultaneously. The observations proposed here will not only provide the best images to date of Saturn?s northern auroras, they will address three fundamental issues: {1} Are Saturn?s auroras similar in the north and south? This will reveal the nature of the processes that cause the northern auroras, and verify the multipole nature of Saturn?s internal magnetic field. {2} Is the location of the northern auroral emission symmetric with to the south? This will indicate why the southern auroral oval is displaced a few degrees toward midnight from the spin pole. It will also reveal whether the oscillation observed in the location of the southern auroral oval is similarly observed in the north, illuminating the nature of near-planetary period oscillations observed throughout the magnetosphere and potentially providing a value for the elusive rotation period of the deep interior. {3} What is the influence of equinox on the magnetosphere? The unique orientation of the planetary spin axis at equinox will reveal whether the auroras are influenced by the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field, and whether the Sun?s effect on Saturn?s magnetosphere changes throughout the planet?s seasons. The Hubble Space Telescope is the only instrument capable of providing global instantaneous coverage of Saturn?s UV auroras, and since Saturn?s orbital period is 30 years, Cycle 17 is the only opportunity to make these observations.;

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