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[60.01] Initial Cassini Observations of the Shape of Saturn's Magnetopause

N. Achilleos, C. S. Arridge, C. Bertucci, M. K. Dougherty (Imperial College), K. K. Khurana (UCLA)

Theoretical and empirical models have been constructed to represent Saturn's magnetopause. A Newtonian pressure balance condition has been applied to derive solar wind dynamic pressure at each of the magnetopause crossings observed in the first few orbits of Saturn by the Cassini spacecraft. We examine the relation between standoff distance R_N (distance from Saturn to magnetopause 'nose') and solar wind pressure P_SW, for assumed magnetopause shape models. Interestingly, a new magnetopause shape, derived using the Cassini data and the Shue et al (1997) functional form, indicates a power law scaling R_N ~ P_SW ^j with j between 1/4 and 1/5 - reflecting a 'magnetodisc'-like configuration for Saturn. The derived models are then applied to the Cassini orbits in their entirety, in order to produce probability distributions of the magnetopause standoff distance (indicative of size) and corresponding P_SW value.

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #3
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.