[5706] PLANETARY SCIENCES: FLUID PLANETS / Aurorae; [5719] PLANETARY SCIENCES: FLUID PLANETS / Interactions with particles and fields; [5729] PLANETARY SCIENCES: FLUID PLANETS / Ionospheres; [6275] PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS / Saturn
Abstract :
[en] The stunning views of the kronian aurora captured by the Visual and Infrared Imaging Spectrograph (VIMS) onboard the Cassini spacecraft continues to provide crucial observations of the fervent interaction between the upper atmosphere and the magnetosphere of Saturn. Here, we present recent findings of VIMS auroral research, which includes both statistical studies and case studies of auroral events and morphology. In addition to stand-alone observations, there is a small subset of VIMS observations during which UVIS was also acquiring data. These observations enable the comparison between observations of H, H2 in the ultraviolet and H3+ in the infrared that are both spatially overlapping and temporally simultaneous. Whilst emission tends to coincide for these three species on the main oval, there are significant differences both pole-ward and equator-ward, such that observations of H and H2 is generally a poor proxy for emissions of H3+. VIMS is sensitive to infrared thermal emission from the H3+ molecule, which is formed very efficiently via the ionisation of H2. Therefore, the morphology of H3+ emission becomes a tracer of energy injected into the upper atmosphere - the most striking of which is auroral particle precipitation.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Melin, H.; Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
Stallard, T.; Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
Badman, S. V.; Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, JAXA, Sagamihara,, Japan
Baines, K. H.; Jet Propulsion Laboratory,, Pasadena, CA, USA
Brown, R. H.; Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, Coolidge, AZ, USA
Miller, S.; Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
O'Donoghue, J.; Department of Physics & Astronomy, University College London, London, United Kingdom
Galand, M. F.; Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
Gustin, Jacques ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Physique des atmosphères et des environnements planétaires
Pryor, W. R.; Department of Science, Central Arizona College, Coolidge, AZ, USA ; )