[Previous] | [Session 6] | [Next]
R. Srama, S. Kempf, G. Moragas-Klostermeyer (MPI Nuclear Physics, Heidelberg), S. Helfert (Helfert Informatik, Mannheim), M. Burton, M. Roy (JPL, Pasadena), E. Gruen (MPI Nuclear Physics, Heidelberg & HIGP, Univ. Honolulu, Hawaii)
The Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) onboard the Cassini mission measures the properties of micron sized dust particles in the environment of Saturn. Since its arrival at Saturn in July 2004, the CDA detector recorded many thousand dust impacts within the E ring of Saturn. Data analysis revealed enhanced dust densities until a radial distance of at least 16 Saturn radii. The dust densities and the mass distribution of the ring particles is investigated. Furthermore, compositional measurements indicate a clear dominance of water ice particles in the size range between 0.5 and 2 micro meter. The discovery of the extended E ring changes the former understanding and modeling based on remote sensing observations.
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: ralf.srama@mpi-hd.mpg.de
[Previous] | [Session 6] | [Next]
Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #3
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.