Cassini Imaging Science: Initial Results on Saturn's Atmosphere
- Creators
- Porco, C. C.
- Dyudina, U.
-
Ingersoll, A. P.
Abstract
The Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) began observing Saturn in early February 2004. From analysis of cloud motions through early October 2004, we report vertical wind shear in Saturn's equatorial jet and a maximum wind speed of ∼375 meters per second, a value that differs from both Hubble Space Telescope and Voyager values. We also report a particularly active narrow southern mid-latitude region in which dark ovals are observed both to merge with each other and to arise from the eruptions of large, bright storms. Bright storm eruptions are correlated with Saturn's electrostatic discharges, which are thought to originate from lightning.
Additional Information
© 2005 American Association for the Advancement of Science. Received for publication 23 November 2004; accepted for publication 6 January 2005. We acknowledge the many individuals across the imaging team who have assisted in the design of imaging sequences and camera commands and in other vital operational and image processing tasks, in particular N. Martin, J. Riley, E. Birath, B. Knowles, C. Clark, M. Belanger, and D. Wilson. Supported by NASA/JPL, the UK Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (German Aerospace Center), and Université Paris VII Denis Diderot, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique, Astrophysique Interactions Multiechelles, France.Attached Files
Supplemental Material - 1107691s1.mov
Supplemental Material - 1107691s2.mov
Supplemental Material - Porco1107691.SOM.pdf
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Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 36592
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20130125-103208613
- NASA/JPL
- Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC)
- Deutschen Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR)
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA)
- Created
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2013-01-25Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-09Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Caltech groups
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences