Publication Date:
2011-08-18
Description:
Results of Voyager 2 radio occultation studies of the atmosphere and ionosphere of Saturn and radio tracking determinations of the masses of Mimas, Tethys, and Iapetus are presented. Measurement of received signal frequency for signals of 3.6 and 13 cm wavelength during Voyager occultation immersion at 36.5 deg N and emmersion at 31 deg S reveal atmospheric temperatures of 143 K at the 1.2 bar level, falling to 82 K at the tropopause at about 70 mbar and rising to about 140 K at the tropopause at about 70 mbar and rising to about 140 K at the 1-mbar pressure level in the stratosphere. Peak electron concentrations of 17,000 and 6400/cu cm are found in the predawn and late afternoon locations, respectively, with topside plasma scale heights of 260-1100 km and 1000 km. Direct measurements of the masses of Tethys and Iapetus yield values of 7.55 and 18.8 x 10 to the 20th kg respectively, and an implied mass of 0.455 x 10 to the 20 kg for Mimas. Results suggest that satellite density tends to decrease with increasing orbital radius, and imply that the intermediate-sized satellites of Saturn may represent objects with differing relative amounts of water, ammonia and methane ices. The apparent low density of Iapetus may then be explained by a large hydrocarbon content.
Keywords:
LUNAR AND PLANETARY EXPLORATION
Type:
Science; 215; Jan. 29
Format:
text
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