1. Saturn's Magnetic Field and Magnetosphere
- Author
-
Charles P. Sonett, Douglas E. Jones, Leverett Davis, Edward J. Smith, P. Dyal, Paul J. Coleman, and David S. Colburn
- Subjects
Physics ,Multidisciplinary ,Magnetosphere ,Dipole model of the Earth's magnetic field ,Astrophysics ,Astrobiology ,Saturn ,Magnetosphere of Saturn ,Physics::Space Physics ,Magnetopause ,Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics ,Magnetosphere of Jupiter ,Mercury's magnetic field ,Saturn's hexagon - Abstract
The Pioneer Saturn vector helium magnetometer has detected a bow shock and magnetopause at Saturn and has provided an accurate characterization of the planetary field. The equatorial surface field is 0.20 gauss, a factor of 3 to 5 times smaller than anticipated on the basis of attempted scalings from Earth and Jupiter. The tilt angle between the magnetic dipole axis and Saturn's rotation axis is1 degrees , a surprisingly small value. Spherical harmonic analysis of the measurements shows that the ratio of quadrupole to dipole moments is10 percent, indicating that the field is more uniform than those of the Earth or Jupiter and consistent with Saturn having a relatively small core. The field in the outer magnetosphere shows systematic departures from the dipole field, principally a compression of the field near noon and an equatorial orientation associated with a current sheet near dawn. A hydromagnetic wake resulting from the interaction of Titan with the rotating magnetosphere appears to have been observed.
- Published
- 1980