Saturn's equinoctial auroras

J. D. Nichols; S. V. Badman; E. J. Bunce; J. T. Clarke; S. W. H. Cowley; F. J. Crary; M. K. Dougherty; J. -C. Gerard; D. Grodent; K. C. Hansen; W. S. Kurth; D. G. Mitchell; W. R. Pryor; T. S. Stallard; D. L. Talboys; S. Wannawichian

doi:10.1029/2009GL041491

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Saturn's equinoctial auroras

J. D. Nichols, S. V. Badman, E. J. Bunce, J. T. Clarke, S. W. H. Cowley, F. J. Crary, M. K. Dougherty, J. -C. Gerard, D. Grodent, K. C. Hansen, …

Geophysical research letters, Vol.36(24), pp.np-n/a

12/2009

DOI: 10.1029/2009GL041491

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Abstract

We present the first images of Saturn's conjugate equinoctial auroras, obtained in early 2009 using the Hubble Space Telescope. We show that the radius of the northern auroral oval is similar to 1.5 degrees smaller than the southern, indicating that Saturn's polar ionospheric magnetic field, measured for the first time in the ionosphere, is similar to 17% larger in the north than the south. Despite this, the total emitted UV power is on average similar to 17% larger in the north than the south, suggesting that field-aligned currents (FACs) are responsible for the emission. Finally, we show that individual auroral features can exhibit distinct hemispheric asymmetries. These observations will provide important context for Cassini observations as Saturn moves from southern to northern summer. Citation: Nichols, J. D., et al. (2009), Saturn's equinoctial auroras, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L24102, doi: 10.1029/2009GL041491.

Geology

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Physical Sciences

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Title: Subtitle: Saturn's equinoctial auroras
Creators: J. D. Nichols - University of Leicester
S. V. Badman - University of Leicester
E. J. Bunce - University of Leicester
J. T. Clarke - Boston University
S. W. H. Cowley - University of Leicester
F. J. Crary - SW Res Inst, Div Space Sci & Engn, San Antonio, TX 78227 USA
M. K. Dougherty - University of London
J. -C. Gerard - University of Liège
D. Grodent - University of Liège
K. C. Hansen - Univ Michigan, Dept Atmospher Ocean & Space Sci, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
W. S. Kurth - University of Iowa
D. G. Mitchell - Johns Hopkins University
W. R. Pryor - Cent Arizona Coll, Dept Sci, Coolidge, AZ 85228 USA
T. S. Stallard - University of Leicester
D. L. Talboys - University of Leicester
S. Wannawichian - Boston University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Geophysical research letters, Vol.36(24), pp.np-n/a
Publisher: Amer Geophysical Union
DOI: 10.1029/2009GL041491
ISSN: 0094-8276
eISSN: 1944-8007
Number of pages: 5
Grant note: HST-GO-10862.01; 1356500; NAS5-97271 / NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) PP/E000983/1; PP/D000912/1; ST/G002223/1; PP/D002117/1 / STFC; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Belgian Federal Science Policy Office PP/D002117/1; ST/G002223/1; PP/E000983/1; PP/D000912/1 / Science and Technology Facilities Council; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) SG PP/D002117/1 / STFC; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Language: English
Date published: 12/2009
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984455556702771

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