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NASA NTRS2006

Icy Satellites of the Planets, and the Work of V.I. Moroz

The satellites of the giant planets are highly varied in size and density, indicating a wide range of compositions. The principal components of these satellites are ices of many different compositions (with H2O the most abundant) and varying amounts of silicate rocky material. Many different ices have been found by spectroscopic techniques both from Earth-based observatories and from planetary spacecraft. Three of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter exhibit H2O ice on their surfaces, while small amounts of CO2 are present on Ganymede and Callisto. The volcanic satellite Io has abundant SO2 ice and frost deposits. Saturn s satellites have surfaces dominated by H2O ice, but CO2 is also present on most of them, and in the cases of the low-albedo satellites Iapetus and Phoebe, there is evidence of complex hydrocarbons mixed with the surface materials. The large Uranian satellites also have H2O-dominated surfaces, but CO2 has also been discovered on two of them. Neptune s largest satellite, Triton, show spectroscopic evidence for six different ices, including N2, CH4, CO, CO2, H2O, and C2H6. The latter ice is a photochemical product from the action of sunlight on Triton's atmosphere. Pluto is similar to Triton, although CO2 has not been found. Pluto s large satellite, Charon, shows evidence for an ammonia hydrate on part of its surface. V. I. Moroz was a pioneer in the application of near-infrared detectors to astronomical sources. Using a prism spectrometer he measured the spectra of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter, and in 1966 he published the first near-infrared spectra, noting the appearance of H2O ice as a major component of Europa and Ganymede. This discovery, and the techniques of Moroz measurements help set the stage for the broad extension of the study of planetary, satellite, and asteroid surfaces through reflectance spectroscopy in the near-infrared.

Cruikshank, Dale P.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Raman scattering as a probe of planetary atmospheres

The observable effects of Raman scattering on the spectra of the giant planets may provide new information on the composition and structure of these atmospheres. Satellite observations have already shown the influence of Raman scattering on the UV continuum albedo. A cross correlation technique is presented for detecting rotational and vibrational transitions of the Raman active gases in the atmosphere. This technique has been applied to ground-based visible spectra of Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus. Extension of this method into the UV would improve the detectability of the Raman lines because the ratio of Raman to Rayleigh cross section increases with decreasing wavelength. The technology currently exists to efficiently obtain high-signal-to-noise ratio UV spectra through the use of silicon diode array detectors. Application of the cross-correlation technique to UV spectra obtained from space vehicles would give a new important probe of the structure and composition of planetary atmospheres by enabling the use of the UV spectra of a planet to observe what would normally be an infrared molecular transition.

Cochran, W. D.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Surface composition and radius of Hyperion

New spectrophotometric data for Hyperion in the region 1.5-2.6 microns obtained in 1981 confirm the presence of water ice bands reported by Cruikshank (1980). The bands are now shown with sufficient clarity to permit improved comparisons with other ice-bearing satellites of Jupiter and Saturn and with laboratory samples. Comparisons with Ganymede and Rhea are shown, and Hyperion is found to differ from both satellites in terms of depth and width of the water ice bands. The sense of the difference is the same as noted earlier from broadband infrared photometry, but the physical cause is not fully understood. The effective radius of Hyperion (considered circular in cross section) derived from a 20-micron flux measurement and a revised value of V(1,0) = 4.62 is r = 140 + or - 19 km. This result is in better accord with both preliminary and refined values of the radius derived from Voyager images; the Voyager result supersedes that deduced from infrared observations.

Cruikshank, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Spectral Mapping of Jupiter and the Galilean Satellites: Results from Galileo's Initial Orbit

The Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer performed spectral studies of Jupiter and the Galilean satellites during the June 1996 perijove pass of the Galileo spacecraft. Spectra fora5-micrometer hotspot on Jupiter are consistent with the absence of a significant watercloud above 8 bars and with a depletion of water compared to that predicted for solar composition, corroborating results from the Galileo probe. Great Red Spot (GRS) spectral images show that parts of this feature extend upward to 240 millibars, although considerable altitude-dependent structure is found within it. A ring of dense clouds surrounds the GRS and is lower than it by 3 to 7 kilometers. Spectra of Callisto and Ganymede reveal a feature at 4.25 micrometers, attributed to the presence of hydrated minerals or possibly carbon dioxide on their surfaces. Spectra of Europa's high latitudes imply that fine-grained water frost overlies larger grains. Several active volcanic regions were found on lo, with temperatures of 420 to 620 kelvin and projected areas of 5 to 70 square kilometers.

Carlson, R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Voyager mission description

The Voyager project, which involves the 1977 launch of two advanced three-axis attitude stabilized spacecraft for the exploration of the Jovian and Saturnian systems, as well as interplanetary space, is discussed. The missions include investigation of the gravitational fields, atmospheric dynamics and magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn, the atmospheres, surface composition and features of Titan, the Io flux tube, the Great Red Spot of Jupiter, and earth occultation by Saturn's rings. To reduce energy required to reach Saturn, gravity-assist swingbys of Jupiter will be employed; a continuation to Uranus by the second satellite may be implemented by reliance on gravity-assist at Saturn.

Kohlhase, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Space Science Reviews volume on Galileo Mission overview

The Galileo Mission, rather than a 'Jupiter mission' per se, is an integrated project encompassing multidisciplinary objectives regarding the whole of the Jovian system. This system is important in view of insights it affords into the conditions of the early solar nebula, as well as into the complex, interacting processes involved in planetary evolution. Jupiter itself is the focus of interest in virtue of representing a transitional object between the terrestrial planets and stars; its composition may be virtually unaltered from that of the original solar nebula. The Jovian system in its entirety presents basic questions regarding its satellite and ring system, which constitute a 'minisolar system'. The Galileo spacecraft consists of an Orbiter and an atmospheric entry Probe.

Johnson, T. V.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Ulysses - A journey above the sun's poles

The mission objectives and orbit parameters of the NASA/ESA Ulysses project are discussed, and the phenomena to be investigated are reviewed in terms of existing knowledge and mission expectations. The sun, solar corona, and the solar wind are described, and the effects of the solar wind on the heliosphere are discussed. The composition of the interstellar medium is also reviewed because the Ulysses mission involves the analysis of interstellar grains, galactic radiation, and the effects of cosmic rays on the magnetic field. The present status of the trajectory of the Ulysses satellite is that it is currently traveling toward Jupiter for a gravity assist to send it out of the ecliptic plane. The focus of the mission is the investigation of the solar corona which can yield important data regarding the aforementioned phenomena.

Smith, Edward J.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Retrievals of Jovian Tropospheric Phosphine from Cassini/CIRS

On December 30th 2000, the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft reached the perijove milestone on its continuing journey to the Saturnian system. During an extended six-month encounter, the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) returned spectra of the Jovian atmosphere, rings and satellites from 10-1400 cm(exp -1) (1000-7 microns) at a programmable spectral resolution of 0.5 to 15 cm(exp -1). The improved spectral resolution of CIRS over previous IR instrument-missions to Jupiter, the extended spectral range, and higher signal-to-noise performance provide significant advantages over previous data sets. CIRS global observations of the mid-infrared spectrum of Jupiter at medium resolution (2.5 cm(exp -1)) have been analysed both with a radiance differencing scheme and an optimal estimation retrieval model to retrieve the spatial variation of phosphine and ammonia fractional scale height in the troposphere between 60 deg S and 60 deg N at a spatial resolution of 6 deg. The ammonia fractional scale height appears to be high over the Equatorial Zone (EZ) but low over the North Equatorial Belt (NEB) and South Equatorial Belt (SEB) indicating rapid uplift or strong vertical mixing in the EZ. The abundance of phosphine shows a similar strong latitudinal variation which generally matches that of the ammonia fractional scale height. However while the ammonia fractional scale height distribution is to a first order symmetric in latitude, the phosphine distribution shows a North/South asymmetry at mid latitudes with higher amounts detected at 40 deg N than 40 deg S. In addition the data show that while the ammonia fractional scale height at this spatial resolution appears to be low over the Great Red Spot (GRS), indicating reduced vertical mixing above the approx. 500 mb level, the abundance of phosphine at deeper levels may be enhanced at the northern edge of the GRS indicating upwelling.

Irwin, P. G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Planets of the solar system

Venera and Mariner spacecraft and ground based radio astronomy and spectroscopic observations of the atmosphere and surface of venus are examined. The composition and structural parameters of the atmosphere are discussed as the basis for development of models and theories of the vertical structure of the atmosphere, the greenhouse effect, atmospheric circulation and cloud cover. Recommendations for further meteorological studies are given. Ground based and Pioneer satellite observation data on Jupiter are explored as well as calculations and models of the cloud structure, atmospheric circulation and thermal emission field of Jupiter.

Kondratyev, K. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Radii and albedos of four Trojan asteroids and Jovian satellites 6 and 7

Results are reported for radiometric measurements of broadband 20-micron fluxes from the Trojan asteroids 617 Patroclus, 624 Hektor (for which the broadband 10-micron flux was also measured), 1172 Aeneas, and 1173 Anchises as well as from the outer Jovian satellites Himalia (J6) and Elara (J7). Geometric albedos and radii for the six objects are derived from the corrected monochromatic fluxes and visual magnitudes. It is found that all the objects have exceedingly low geometric albedos, indicating that the Trojans and possibly the outer Jovian satellites constitute a distinct class of small solar-system bodies. The composition of the Trojan asteroids is considered on the basis of available sizes, albedos, and shapes. Revised tables of the albedos and radii of all the Jovian satellites are presented. It is concluded that the Trojans are not composed primarily of ice and that an asteroidal origin for the comets of the Jupiter group is unlikely.

Cruikshank, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Encounters with Jupiter - The Low Energy Charged Particle results of Voyager

Results of the Low Energy Charged Particle (LECP) experiments on board the Voyager spacecraft, designed to measure the fluxes and compositions of ions of energies 28 keV or greater and electrons of energies 15 keV or greater, during Jupiter encounter are presented. Observations of intense particle bursts coming from Jupiter several weeks before Jovian magnetosphere entry, magnetopause crossings, a hot corotating outer magnetospheric plasma, decreases in particle fluxes at the orbits of the Galilean satellites 10-hr particle flux periodicities and a magnetospheric wind are discussed. A new model of the Jovian magnetosphere based on the Voyager results is presented, and areas of continuing LECP Jovian data analysis are indicated.

Carbary, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Shock vaporization and the accretion of the icy satellites of Jupiter and Saturn

The known properties of water and ice over a wide range of pressures and temperatures are applied to describe constraints on the shock vaporization processes for water and ice in the solar system. In particular, the role of impact vaporization acting during the formation of the Jovian and Saturnian satellites is examined in an attempt to explain the observed density in terms of composition of these rock and ice objects. A possible model of accretion of icy satellites is considered which predicts that the amount of ice devolatilization is related to planetary size.

Ahrens, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Titan: a laboratory for prebiological organic chemistry

When we examine the atmospheres of the Jovian planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune), the satellites in the outer solar system, comets, and even--through microwave and infrared spectroscopy--the cold dilute gas and grains between the stars, we find a rich organic chemistry, presumably abiological, not only in most of the solar system but throughout the Milky Way galaxy. In part because the composition and surface pressure of the Earth's atmosphere 4 x 10(9) years ago are unknown, laboratory experiments on prebiological organic chemistry are at best suggestive; but we can test our understanding by looking more closely at the observed extraterrestrial organic chemistry. The present Account is restricted to atmospheric organic chemistry, primarily on the large moon of Saturn. Titan is a test of our understanding of the organic chemistry of planetary atmospheres. Its atmospheric bulk composition (N2/CH4) is intermediate between the highly reducing (H2/He/CH4/NH3/H2O) atmospheres of the Jovian planets and the more oxidized (N2/CO2/H2O) atmospheres of the terrestrial planets Mars and Venus. It has long been recognized that Titan's organic chemistry may have some relevance to the events that led to the origin of life on Earth. But with Titan surface temperatures approximately equal to 94 K and pressures approximately equal to 1.6 bar, the oceans of the early Earth have no ready analogue on Titan. Nevertheless, tectonic events in the water ice-rich interior or impact melting and slow re-freezing may lead to an episodic availability of liquid water. Indeed, the latter process is the equivalent of a approximately 10(3)-year-duration shallow aqueous sea over the entire surface of Titan.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS2006

Formation of the giant planets

The observed properties of giant planets, models of their evolution and observations of protoplanetary disks provide constraints on the formation of gas giant planets. The four largest planets in our Solar System contain considerable quantities of hydrogen and helium, which could not have condensed into solid planetesimals within the protoplanetary disk. All three (transiting) extrasolar giant planets with well determined masses and radii also must contain substantial amounts of these light gases. Jupiter and Saturn are mostly hydrogen and helium, but have larger abundances of heavier elements than does the Sun. Neptune and Uranus are primarily composed of heavier elements. HD 149026 b, which is slightly more massive than is Saturn, appears to have comparable quantities of light gases and heavy elements. HD 209458 b and TrES-1 are primarily hydrogen and helium, but may contain supersolar abundances of heavy elements. Spacecraft flybys and observations of satellite orbits provide estimates of the gravitational moments of the giant planets in our Solar System, which in turn provide information on the internal distribution of matter within Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Atmospheric thermal structure and heat flow measurements constrain the interior temperatures of planets. Internal processes may cause giant planets to become more compositionally differentiated or alternatively more homogeneous; high-pressure laboratory .experiments provide data useful for modeling these processes. The preponderance of evidence supports the core nucleated gas accretion model. According to this model, giant planets begin their growth by the accumulation of small solid bodies, as do terrestrial planets. However, unlike terrestrial planets, the growing giant planet cores become massive enough that they are able to accumulate substantial amounts of gas before the protoplanetary disk dissipates. The primary questions regarding the core nucleated growth model is under what conditions planets with small cores/total heavy element abundances can accrete gaseous envelopes within the lifetimes of gaseous protoplanetary disks.

Lissauer, Jack J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Biology on the outer planets

A brief review is given of information on the structure and composition of the outer planets and the organic reactions that may be occurring on them. The possibility of life arising or surviving in the atmospheres of these planets is considered, and the problem of contamination during future unmanned missions is assessed. Atmospheric models or available atmospheric data are reviewed for Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, the Galilean satellites, and Titan. The presence of biologically interesting gases on Jupiter and Saturn is discussed, requirements for life on Jupiter are summarized, and possible sources of biological energy are examined. Proposals are made for protecting these planets and satellites from biological contamination by spacecraftborne terrestrial organisms.

Young, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Satellites of the outer planets - Their physical and chemical nature.

Steady-state thermal models for the icy satellites are constructed in which the energy released by radioactive decay in the interiors of the satellites is exactly balanced by the net radiative loss from their surfaces. It is shown that the Galilean satellites of Jupiter and the larger satellites of Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune very likely have extensively melted interiors, and most probably contain a core of hydrous silicates, and extensive mantle of ammonia-rich liquid water, and a relatively thin crust of ices. Consequences of this model relating to the Galilean satellites and the rings of Saturn are briefly described. The atmospheric compositions and densities of the large icy satellites and certain features of the retention of volatiles during accretion are discussed.

Lewis, J. S.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Sulfur volcanoes on Io

Widespread volcanism on Jupiter's satellite Io, if it occurred over the age of the solar system, would quickly reduce the inventory of most common volatiles needed to drive such volcanism. One exception is the volatile element sulfur. It is therefore postulated that sulfur is the driving volatile for Ionian volcanism. Its presence is consistent with a carbonaceous-chondrite-like bulk composition for the original material that formed Io 4.5 billion years ago. The ubiquity of sulfur on Io today demonstrates the importance of this element in the processes that formed its surface.

Consolmagno, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Voyager at Saturn

The spacecraft design and operations and mission results of the Voyager Project are reviewed with particular emphasis on the results of the Saturn encounters. The mission was undertaken by two spacecraft: Voyager 2, launched first on August 20, 1977 on a lower energy trajectory to Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune; and Voyager 1, launched on September 5, 1977 on a higher energy trajectory to closer flybys of Jupiter and Saturn. The Voyager spacecraft make use of earlier Mariner and Viking Orbiter design concepts, with additional capabilities for solar independent power, long-range communications and autonomy as well as equipment for the 11 science investigations. The Voyager operations system consists of a ground data system, missions operations system, and support by the Mission Control and Computer Center and Deep Space Network. Among the results of the Jupiter encounter are data concerning the magnetospheric structure and atmospheric dynamics of the planet and the surface features of the Galilean satellites. The encounters with Saturn produced scientific data concerning wind speeds, auroral emissions, and radio emissions from the planet, the fine structure of the previously known and newly discovered rings, the surface features of the satellites and the atmospheric composition and conditions of Titan. Voyager 1 is presently making field and particle measurements on its flight into interstellar space, while Voyager 2 is headed for an encounter with Uranus in January 1986 and Neptune in August 1989.

Heacock, R. L.↗