Observations of Saturn's Atmosphere and Auroras by Cassini UVIS and VIMS

Details Observations of Saturn's Atmosphere and Auroras by Cassini UVIS and VIMS Observations of Saturn's Atmosphere and Auroras by Cassini UVIS and VIMS

Dec 2005

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005agufm.p23d..03p&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2005, abstract #P23D-03

Physics

5700 Planetary Sciences: Fluid Planets, 5704 Atmospheres (0343, 1060), 5706 Aurorae, 5737 Magnetospheres (2756)

Scientific paper

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.

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