The opposition effect in the outer Solar System: a comparative study of the phase function morphology

Details The opposition effect in the outer Solar System: a comparative study of the phase function morphology The opposition effect in the outer Solar System: a comparative study of the phase function morphology

2009-02-02

arxiv.org/abs/0902.0345v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

5 tables, 10 figures, submitted to PSS

Scientific paper

In this paper, we characterize the morphology of the disk-integrated phase functions of satellites and rings around the giant planets of our Solar System. We find that the shape of the phase function is accurately represented by a logarithmic model (Bobrov, 1970, in Surfaces and Interiors of Planets and Satellites, Academic, edited by A. Dollfus). For practical purposes, we also parametrize the phase curves by a linear-exponential model (Kaasalainen et al., 2001, Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, 70, 529-543) and a simple linear-by-parts model (Lumme and Irvine, 1976, Astronomical Journal, 81, 865-893), which provides three morphological parameters : the amplitude A and the Half-Width at Half-Maximum (HWHM) of the opposition surge, and the slope S of the linear part of the phase function at larger phase angles. Our analysis demonstrates that all of these morphological parameters are correlated with the single scattering albedos of the surfaces. By taking more accurately into consideration the finite angular size of the Sun, we find that the Galilean, Saturnian, Uranian and Neptunian satellites have similar HWHMs (0.5 degrees), whereas they have a wide range of amplitudes A. The Moon has the largest HWHM (2 degrees). We interpret that as a consequence of the solar size bias, via the finite size of the Sun which varies dramatically from the Earth to Neptune. By applying a new method that attempts to morphologically deconvolve the phase function to the solar angular size, we find that icy and young surfaces, with active resurfacing, have the smallest values of A and HWHM, whereas dark objects (and perhaps older surfaces) such as the Moon, Nereid and Saturn C ring have the largest A and HWHM.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The opposition effect in the outer Solar System: a comparative study of the phase function morphology does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The opposition effect in the outer Solar System: a comparative study of the phase function morphology, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The opposition effect in the outer Solar System: a comparative study of the phase function morphology will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-160363