Ultraviolet Imaging Spectroscopy Shows an Active Saturnian System

Neutral oxygen in the saturnian system shows variability, and the total number of oxygen atoms peaks at 4 x 10³⁴. Saturn's aurora brightens in response to solar-wind forcing, and the auroral spectrum resembles Jupiter's. Phoebe's surface shows variable water-ice content, and the data...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2005-02, Vol.307 (5713), p.1251-1255
Main Authors: Esposito, Larry W, Colwell, Joshua E, Larsen, Kristopher, McClintock, William E, Stewart, A. Ian F, Hallett, Janet Tew, Shemansky, Donald E, Ajello, Joseph M, Hansen, Candice J, Hendrix, Amanda R, West, Robert A, Keller, H. Uwe, Korth, Axel, Pryor, Wayne R, Reulke, Ralf, Yung, Yuk L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Astronomy
Auroras
Chemistry
Energy
Extraterrestrial Environment
Hydrogen
Ice
Ions
Italian ices
Magnetospheres
Mathematical rings
Natural satellites
Neutral gases
Observations
Organic Chemistry
Oxygen
Radiation
Research Articles and Reports
Saturn
Saturn (Planet)
Saturnian satellites
Scientific Concepts
Solar system
Space exploration
Spacecraft
Spectral reflectance
Spectrometer
Spectrometers
Spectrum Analysis
Ultraviolet radiation
Ultraviolet Rays
Water
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Summary:Neutral oxygen in the saturnian system shows variability, and the total number of oxygen atoms peaks at 4 x 10³⁴. Saturn's aurora brightens in response to solar-wind forcing, and the auroral spectrum resembles Jupiter's. Phoebe's surface shows variable water-ice content, and the data indicate it originated in the outer solar system. Saturn's rings also show variable water abundance, with the purest ice in the outermost A ring. This radial variation is consistent with initially pure water ice bombarded by meteors, but smaller radial structures may indicate collisional transport and recent renewal events in the past 10⁷ to 10⁸ years.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1105606