Journal article
In situ collection of dust grains falling from Saturn's rings into its atmosphere
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), Vol.362(6410), p.49
10/05/2018
DOI: 10.1126/science.aat3185
PMID: 30287635
Abstract
Saturn's main rings are composed of >95% water ice, and the nature of the remaining few percent has remained unclear. The Cassini spacecraft's traversals between Saturn and its innermost D ring allowed its cosmic dust analyzer (CDA) to collect material released from the main rings and to characterize the ring material infall into Saturn. We report the direct in situ detection of material from Saturn's dense rings by the CDA impact mass spectrometer. Most detected grains are a few tens of nanometers in size and dynamically associated with the previously inferred "ring rain." Silicate and water-ice grains were identified, in proportions that vary with latitude. Silicate grains constitute up to 30% of infalling grains, a higher percentage than the bulk silicate content of the rings.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- In situ collection of dust grains falling from Saturn's rings into its atmosphere
- Creators
- Hsiang-Wen Hsu - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsJurgen Schmidt - University of OuluSascha Kempf - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsFrank Postberg - Heidelberg UniversityGeorg Moragas-Klostermeyer - University of StuttgartMartin Seiss - University of PotsdamHolger Hoffmann - University of PotsdamMarcia Burton - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryShengYi Ye - University of IowaWilliam S. Kurth - University of IowaMihaly Horanyi - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsNozair Khawaja - Heidelberg UniversityFrank Spahn - University of PotsdamDaniel Schirdewahn - University of PotsdamJames O'Donoghue - Goddard Space Flight CenterLuke Moore - Boston UniversityJeff Cuzzi - Ames Research CenterGeraint H. Jones - University College LondonRalf Srama - University of Stuttgart
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), Vol.362(6410), p.49
- Publisher
- Amer Assoc Advancement Science
- DOI
- 10.1126/science.aat3185
- PMID
- 30287635
- ISSN
- 0036-8075
- eISSN
- 1095-9203
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- Sp384/33-1; Ho5720/1-1 / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft; German Research Foundation (DFG) 724908-Habitat-OASIS / ERC consolidator grant; European Research Council (ERC) Cassini project Academy of Finland; Research Council of Finland NNX16AI35G / NASA/ROSES-2015 PO 1015/4-1 / DFG; German Research Foundation (DFG) UK Science and Technology Facilities Council; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) ESA; European Space Agency OH 1401 / Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft-und Raumfahrt; Helmholtz Association; German Aerospace Centre (DLR) ST/N000722/1 / STFC; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) NASA; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) PO 1015/2-1; PO 1015/3-1 / German Research Foundation (DFG)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/05/2018
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984455552202771
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