Atmospheres and plasma interactions at Saturn's largest inner icy satellites

被引：31
作者：
Saur, J
Strobel, DF
机构：
[1] Johns Hopkins Univ, Appl Phys Lab, Laurel, MD 20723 USA
[2] Johns Hopkins Univ, Dept Earth & Planetary Sci, Baltimore, MD 21218 USA
[3] Johns Hopkins Univ, Dept Phys & Astron, Baltimore, MD 21218 USA
来源：
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL | 2005年 / 620卷 / 02期
基金：
美国国家航空航天局;
关键词：
planets and satellites : individual (Saturn);
D O I：
10.1086/428665
中图分类号：
P1 [天文学];
学科分类号：
0704 ;
摘要：
We explore the possible existence of atmospheres on Saturn's icy satellites, Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, and Rhea. Only the most massive satellite, Rhea, has the potential to hold a thin oxygen atmosphere/ exosphere. The masses of the other satellites are too small to retain gravitationally atmospheres in the presence of large thermal escape rates. If the temperature of Rhea's atmosphere is close to its surface temperature, then a molecular oxygen column density of 6 x 10(17) m(-2) is possible and causes a discernable plasma interaction with Saturn's magnetosphere that can be probed by close flybys of the Cassini spacecraft.
引用
收藏
页码：L115 / L118
页数：4
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