Hubble Detects the Start of a New Saturn Ring Spoke Season

Autor: Amy A. Simon, Matthew M. Hedman, Philip D. Nicholson, Matthew S. Tiscareno, Mark R. Showalter, Troy McDonald, Samantha Callos
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: Geophysical Research Letters, Vol 50, Iss 3, Pp n/a-n/a (2023)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1944-8007
0094-8276
DOI: 10.1029/2022GL101904
Popis: Abstract Saturn's ring spokes typically appear over an 8‐year duration centered on equinox. Hubble Space Telescope observations in 2021 indicate the beginning of a new spoke season as Saturn approaches equinox in 2025. The spokes show increased contrast and longevity in 2022, persisting for up to 11 hours. The spokes are visible from UV to near‐IR and are slightly bluer (i.e., less red) than the rings, but we find no significant wavelength dependence in the spectral contrast, which approximates their optical depth). Spoke rotation rates are between 606 and 626 min, consistent with either Keplerian rotation or possibly the variable rotation rate of Saturn's kilometric radiation. Spoke activity is expected to increase over the next several years.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
Externí odkaz: