Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Sep 1998
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998dps....30.4301t&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #30, #43.01; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 30, p.1096
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
1
Scientific paper
HST/STIS observations of Saturn's aurora were carried out in October 1997, using both the imaging and spectroscopic modes, providing access to the auroral emissions from atomic and molecular hydrogen in the northern and southern auroral zones. Two STIS imaging modes were used for discrimination between hydrogen Lyman-alpha and H_2 emissions between 1200-1650 { Angstroms}ngstroms. Both atomic and molecular emissions are seen in the STIS clear imaging mode, while the addition of a SrF_2 longpass blocker discriminates against Lyman-alpha to isolate the H_2 molecular emissions. The imaging data were taken in time-tagged mode, providing a clear picture of the movements of auroral emissions over the period of observations. These images extend a baseline of HST observations of Saturn's aurora begun in October 1995 and October 1994 with WFPC2 Wood's filter imagery, but with improved sensitivity and spectral discrimination. We now report that the observed auroral features have been modeled to unfold the latitude, longitude, vertical extent, and radiated power of the emissions. We confirm that the auroral emissions are tightly confined to latitudes near 76(deg) in the north and south, with persistent arc morphology that is roughly fixed in local time, but with slow variations in locally bright emission features and in the mean latitudes of the auroral emissions. These HST/STIS images provide new insights into the physical mechanisms that power Saturn's aurora.
Ballester Gilda E.
Clarke John T.
Evans Robin
Stapelfeldt Karl
Trauger John
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