Photochemistry in Saturn's Ring-Shadowed Atmosphere: Hydrocarbon Modulation & Observations of Dust Content
Abstract
Cassini has been orbiting Saturn for eleven years. During this epoch, the ring shadow has moved from covering a relatively large portion of the northern hemisphere (Figure 1) to covering a large swath south of the equator and continues to move southward. At Saturn Orbit Insertion on July 1, 2004, the ring plane was inclined by ~24 degrees relative to the Sun -Saturn vector. At this time, the projection of the B-ring onto Saturn reached as far as 40ºN along the central meridian (~52ºN at the terminator). At its maximum extent, the ring shadow can reach as far as 48ºN (~58ºN at the terminator). The net effect is that the intensity of both ultraviolet and visible sunlight penetrating into any particular latitude will vary depending on both Saturn's axis relative to the Sun and the optical thickness of each ring system. In essence, the rings act like venetian blinds.
- Publication:
-
European Planetary Science Congress
- Pub Date:
- October 2015
- Bibcode:
- 2015EPSC...10..399E