Other
Scientific paper
Dec 2005
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005agufm.p51e..02c&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2005, abstract #P51E-02
Other
2730 Magnetosphere: Inner, 2731 Magnetosphere: Outer, 2732 Magnetosphere Interactions With Satellites And Rings, 5737 Magnetospheres (2756)
Scientific paper
Since July, 2004, the Cassini spacecraft has been orbiting Saturn and observing the planet, its satellites, rings, and its magnetosphere. Here we report on the initial survey of ion composition in Saturn's magnetosphere. The plasma, composed primarily of protons, oxygen and water group ions, also contains molecular hydrogen ions, helium, nitrogen, and other minor species. The abundance of the major ions varies with distance from Saturn. Inside of ~4 R_S the proton abundance is low, and the water group ions are primarily the heavier species such as H3O4. At greater distances, O+ becomes the most abundant heavy ion, and beyond ~10 R_S protons are the most abundant species. Even near the orbit of Titan, other species are less abundant than protons and the water group species, indicating that the rings and icy satellites are a more significant source of plasma than Titan. We will also describe the abundance and distribution of the minor species, and discuss the implications for their sources within Saturn's magnetosphere.
Crary Frank J.
Goldstein Raymond
Reisenfeld Dan
Sittler Edward C.
Smith Howard T.
No associations
LandOfFree
The composition of Saturn's magnetosphere 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 composition of Saturn's magnetosphere, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The composition of Saturn's magnetosphere will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-751026