Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufm.p53b..05m&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #P53B-05
Physics
[6219] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Io, [6221] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Europa, [6222] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Ganymede, [6223] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Callisto
Scientific paper
Study of the Galilean satellite atmospheres is a field that has blossomed in the last 25 years. The discovery of the Io plasma torus in 1976, and the in situ characterization of the plasma in the jovian magnetosphere by the Voyager spacecraft in 1979, made it clear that all of the Galilean satellites are exposed to a harsh radiation environment. The collisional impact of magnetospheric ions with these satellites erodes their surfaces and sputters atoms and molecules to create tenuous atmospheres. Surface processes such as sublimation and active volcanos contribute as well. The discovery and confirmation that all these satellites possess tenuous atmospheres has been accomplished by three of NASA’s largest and most productive space missions of the last 25 years: Voyager, Hubble Space Telescope and Galileo. Numerous ground-based observations have also contributed to the substantial advances in our understanding of these atmospheres. Whereas in 1975 two species (sodium and potassium) were known to be present on Io, today nine atomic and molecular species have been detected, and 2-4 species have also been detected at each of Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. In addition to tenuous atmospheres, Io, Europa and Ganymede all exhibit bright auroral emissions produced by plasma electron excitation of their neutral atmospheres, which are fascinating because of the tremendous variation in morphology presented by the different satelittes. This talk will provide a short summary of our current state of knowledge about the atmospheres and auroral emissions of Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
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