Publication Date:
2011-08-19
Description:
Voyager 1 encounter data are used to theoretically examine the interaction of Titan with the solar wind, the Saturn magnetosheath and the Saturn magnetosphere. The spacecraft data comprised magnetometer, plasma wave, radio signal and charged particle measurements. Attention is given to the Alfven (1.9) and Mach (0.57) numbers detected in the Saturn magnetosheath, along with a fast hydrodynamic Mach number of 0.55. Incident plasma interacted with the Titan atmosphere and produced a magnetosphere through mass capture and field-line draping. The tail region was loaded with N(+) and N2(+)/H2CN(+) ions instead of the strong H(+) signals typical of other regions. The magnetotail featured four lobes, and the Titan atmosphere was calculated to lose 10 to the 24th ions/sec. Finally, the Titan internal rotationally aligned magnetic field has an estimated strength of 7 x 10 to the 20th gauss/cu cm.
Keywords:
LUNAR AND PLANETARY EXPLORATION
Format:
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