| 1. |
- Arridge, Christopher S., et al.
(författare)
-
Uranus Pathfinder : exploring the origins and evolution of Ice Giant planets
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Experimental astronomy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0922-6435 .- 1572-9508. ; 33:2-3, s. 753-791
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The "Ice Giants" Uranus and Neptune are a different class of planet compared to Jupiter and Saturn. Studying these objects is important for furthering our understanding of the formation and evolution of the planets, and unravelling the fundamental physical and chemical processes in the Solar System. The importance of filling these gaps in our knowledge of the Solar System is particularly acute when trying to apply our understanding to the numerous planetary systems that have been discovered around other stars. The Uranus Pathfinder (UP) mission thus represents the quintessential aspects of the objectives of the European planetary community as expressed in ESA's Cosmic Vision 2015-2025. UP was proposed to the European Space Agency's M3 call for medium-class missions in 2010 and proposed to be the first orbiter of an Ice Giant planet. As the most accessible Ice Giant within the M-class mission envelope Uranus was identified as the mission target. Although not selected for this call the UP mission concept provides a baseline framework for the exploration of Uranus with existing low-cost platforms and underlines the need to develop power sources suitable for the outer Solar System. The UP science case is based around exploring the origins, evolution, and processes at work in Ice Giant planetary systems. Three broad themes were identified: (1) Uranus as an Ice Giant, (2) An Ice Giant planetary system, and (3) An asymmetric magnetosphere. Due to the long interplanetary transfer from Earth to Uranus a significant cruise-phase science theme was also developed. The UP mission concept calls for the use of a Mars Express/Rosetta-type platform to launch on a Soyuz-Fregat in 2021 and entering into an eccentric polar orbit around Uranus in the 2036-2037 timeframe. The science payload has a strong heritage in Europe and beyond and requires no significant technology developments.
|
|
| 2. |
- Badman, S. V., et al.
(författare)
-
Rotational modulation and local time dependence of Saturn's infrared H-3(+) auroral intensity
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 117
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Planetary auroral emissions reveal the configuration of magnetospheric field-aligned current systems. In this study, Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) observations of Saturn's pre-equinox infrared H-3(+) aurorae were analysed to show (a) rotational modulation of the auroral intensity in both hemispheres and (b) a significant local time dependence of the emitted intensity. The emission intensity is modulated by the 'planetary period' rotation of auroral current systems in each hemisphere. The northern auroral intensity also displays a lesser anti-phase dependence on the southern rotating current system, indicating that part of the southern current system closes in the northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere aurorae were most intense in the post-dawn sector, in agreement with some past measurements of auroral field-aligned currents, UV aurora and SKR emitted power. A corresponding investigation of the northern hemisphere auroral intensity reveals a broader dawn-noon enhancement, possibly due to the interaction of the southern rotating current system with that of the north. The auroral intensity was reduced around dusk and post-midnight in both hemispheres. These observations can be explained by the interaction of a rotating field-aligned current system in each hemisphere with one fixed in local time, which is related to the solar wind interaction with magnetospheric field lines.
|
|
