A primordial origin of the Laplace relation among the Galilean satellites

Understanding the origin of the orbital resonances of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter will constrain the longevity of the extensive volcanism on Io, may explain a liquid ocean on Europa, and may guide studies of the dissipative properties of stars and Jupiter-like planets. The differential migration of the newly formed Galilean satellites due to interactions with a circumjovian disk can lead to the primordial formation of the Laplace relation n(1) - 3n(2) + 2n(3) = 0, where the n(i) are the mean orbital angular velocities of Io, Europa, and Ganymede, respectively. This contrasts with the formation of the resonances by differential expansion of the orbits from tidal torques from Jupiter.     

New horizons mapping of Europa and Ganymede

The New Horizons spacecraft observed Jupiter's icy satellites Europa and Ganymede during its flyby in February and March 2007 at visible and infrared wavelengths. Infrared spectral images map H2O ice absorption and hydrated contaminants, bolstering the case for an exogenous source of Europa's "non-ice" surface material and filling large gaps in compositional maps of Ganymede's Jupiter-facing hemisphere. Visual wavelength images of Europa extend knowledge of its global pattern of arcuate troughs and show that its surface scatters light more isotropically than other icy satellites.     

Masses of the galilean satellites of jupiter

Numerical data derived from the observation of the four great satellites of Jupiter are compared with the values obtained through Sampson's theory by using the new JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) system of masses. It is not possible to fit the coefficient of the free oscillation in the longitude of Ganymede, whose argument is l(3) - omega(4) (the mean longitude of Ganymede referred to the proper apse of Callisto), and the mass of Callisto derived from the path of Pioneer 10.     

Galilean satellites: identification of water frost

Water frost absorptions have been detected in the infrared reflectivities of Jupiter's Galilean satellites JII (Europa) and JIII (Ganymede). We have determined the percentage of frost-covered surface area to be 50 to 100 percent for JII, 20 to 65 percent for JIII, and possibly 5 to 25 percent for JIV (Callisto). The leading side of JIII has 20 percent more frost cover than the trailing side, which explains the visible geometric albedo differences between the two sides. The reflectivity of the material underlying the frost on JII, JIII, and JIV resembles that of silicates. The surface of JI (Io) may be covered by frost particles much smaller than those on JII and JIII.     

Galilean satellites of jupiter: 12.6-centimeter radar observations

Observations of the Galilean satellites with the radar system at the Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico, show that their surfaces are highly diffuse scatterers of radio waves of length 12.6 centimeters; spectra of the radar echoes are asymmetric and broad. The geometric radar albedos for the outer three satellites-0.42 +/- 0.10, 0.20 +/- 0.05, and 0.09 +/- 0.02 for Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, respectively-show about the same relative decreases as do the optical albedos, although the latter presumably bear only on material much nearer the surface. Radii of 1420 +/- 30, 2640 +/- 80, and 2360 +/- 70 kilometers for Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto were determined from the radar data and are in good agreement with the corresponding optically derived values. Io, observed successfully only once, appears to have an albedo comparable to Ganymede's, but no radius was estimated for it.     

Discovery of mass anomalies on Ganymede

We present the discovery of mass anomalies on Ganymede, Jupiter's third and largest Galilean satellite. This discovery is surprising for such a large icy satellite. We used the radio Doppler data generated with the Galileo spacecraft during its second encounter with Ganymede on 6 September 1996 to model the mass anomalies. Two surface mass anomalies, one a positive mass at high latitude and the other a negative mass at low latitude, can explain the data. There are no obvious geological features that can be identified with the anomalies.     

Erosion of galilean satellite surfaces by jovian magnetosphere particles

The Galilean satellites of Jupiter-Io (J1), Europa (J2), Ganymede (J3), and Callisto (J4)-are embedded in the intense ion and electron fluxes of the Jovian magnetosphere. The effect of these particles on the icy surfaces of the outer three satellites depends on the fluxes and the efficiency of the sputtering of water ice by such particles. Recent laboratory measurements provided data on the erosion of water ice by energetic particles and showed that it occurs much faster than would be expected from normal sputtering theory. The Voyager spacecraft encounters with Jupiter provided the first measurements of ion fluxes (energies greater, similar 30 kiloelectron volts) in the vicinity of the Galilean satellites. Using the laboratory sputtering data together with particle measurements from the Voyager 1 low-energy charged particle experiment, the effects of erosion on the surfaces of J2 to J4 are estimated. It is shown that the surface of Europa could be eroded by as much as 100 meters over an eon (10(9) years). Column densities of water vapor that could be produced around the three satellites from particle bombardment of their surfaces are also calculated, and the sources and losses of oxygen in the gravitationally bound gas produced by sputtering or sublimation are estimated.     

Evidence for crystalline water and ammonia ices on Pluto's satellite charon

Observations have resolved the satellite Charon from its parent planet Pluto, giving separate spectra of the two objects from 1.0 to 2.5 micrometers. The spectrum of Charon is found to be different from that of Pluto, with water ice in crystalline form covering most of the surface of the satellite. In addition, an absorption feature in Charon's spectrum suggests the presence of ammonia ices. Ammonia ice-water ice mixtures have been proposed as the cause of flowlike features observed on the surfaces of many icy satellites. The existence of such ices on Charon may indicate geological activity in the satellite's past.     

Minor planets: the discovery of minor satellites

The recent confirmation of the discovery of a satellite of the minor planet 532 Herculina indicates that other similar anomalous sightings are probably also due to satellites, which must therefore be numerous and commonplace. There are now 23 candidate satellites for eight minor planets, and no one of these minor planets occulting a star has failed to show evidence of at least one secondary event. Such companions are gravitationally stable but apparently have rapid tidal evolution rates.     

The equatorial ridges of Pan and Atlas: terminal accretionary ornaments?

In the outer regions of Saturn's main rings, strong tidal forces balance gravitational accretion processes. Thus, unusual phenomena may be expected there. The Cassini spacecraft has recently revealed the strange "flying saucer" shape of two small satellites, Pan and Atlas, located in this region, showing prominent equatorial ridges. The accretion of ring particles onto the equatorial surfaces of already-formed bodies embedded in the rings may explain the formation of the ridges. This ridge formation process is in good agreement with detailed Cassini images showing differences between rough polar and smooth equatorial terrains. We propose that Pan and Atlas ridges are kilometers-thick "ring-particle piles" formed after the satellites themselves and after the flattening of the rings but before the complete depletion of ring material from their surroundings.     

Composition and dynamics of plasma in Saturn's magnetosphere

During Cassini's initial orbit, we observed a dynamic magnetosphere composed primarily of a complex mixture of water-derived atomic and molecular ions. We have identified four distinct regions characterized by differences in both bulk plasma properties and ion composition. Protons are the dominant species outside about 9 RS (where RS is the radial distance from the center of Saturn), whereas inside, the plasma consists primarily of a corotating comet-like mix of water-derived ions with approximately 3% N+. Over the A and B rings, we found an ionosphere in which O2+ and O+ are dominant, which suggests the possible existence of a layer of O2 gas similar to the atmospheres of Europa and Ganymede.     

Orbit-orbit resonance capture in the solar system

A realistic model involving mutual gravitation and tidal dissipation for the first time provides a detailed explanation for satellite orbit-orbit resonance capture. Although applying directly only to Saturn's satellites Titan and Hyperion, the model reveals general principles of resonance capture, evolution, and stability which seem applicable to other orbit-orbit resonances in the solar system.     

长江潮位预报方法

本文根据长江感潮段的水力特点,以潮流界区分为感潮上段(潮流界至潮区界)与感潮下段(潮流界至河口),阐明了长江感潮段的潮汐是上游的径流与海外潮波的复合,指出潮位可分解为径流与天文潮两种因素。并应用微机以时间序列分析和调和分析法相结合的方法进行潮位预报。     

Plasma observations near jupiter: initial results from voyager 2

The first of at least nine bow shock crossings observed on the inbound pass of Voyager 2 occurred at 98.8 Jupiter radii (R(J)) with final entry into the magnetosphere at 62 R(J). On both the inbound and outbound passes the plasma showed a tendency to move in the direction of corotation, as was observed on the inbound pass of Voyager 1. Positive ion densities and electron intensities observed by Voyager 2 are comparable within a factor of 2 to those seen by Voyager 1 at the same radial distance from Jupiter; the composition of the magnetospheric plasma is again dominated by heavy ions with a ratio of mass density relative to hydrogen of about 100/1. A series of dropouts of plasma intensity near Ganymede may be related to a complex interaction between Ganymede and the magnetospheric plasma. From the planetary spin modulation of the intensity of plasma electrons it is inferred that the plasma sheet is centered at the dipole magnetic equator out to a distance of 40 to 50 R(J) and deviates from it toward the rotational equator at larger distances. The longitudinal excursion of the plasma sheet lags behind the rotating dipole by a phase angle that increases with increasing radial distance.     

Ganymede: observations by radar

Radar cross-section measurements indicate that Ganymede scatters to Earth 12 percent of the power expected from a conducting sphere of the same size and distance. This compares with 8 percent for Mars, 12 percent for Venus, 6 percent for Mercury, and about 8 percent for the asteroid Toro. Furthermore, Ganymede is considerably rougher (to the scale of the wavelength used, 12.6 centimeters) than Mars, Venus, or Mercury. Roughness is made evident in this experiment by the presence of echoes away from the center of the disk. A perfectly smooth target would reflect only a glint from the center, whereas a very rough target would reflect power from over the entire disk.     

基于最大类间方差法和数学形态学的遥感图像潮沟提取方法

潮沟作为潮滩的主要地貌类型之一,以长江口九段沙为研究对象,利用2015年2月15日获取的Landsat 8分辨率为15 m的全色波段遥感数据为数据源,选取了3条发育不同的潮沟。首先利用顶帽变换来消除直接利用最大类间方差法对图像亮度背景不均匀不能准确分割的问题,然后通过最大类间方差法找到一个最佳的阈值使潮沟和背景之间方差最大,得到二值化图像;接着通过形态膨胀对断裂的潮沟进行连接,并用形态去除方法剔除非目标;最后对潮沟进行骨架化提取和去除短枝处理,得到完整的潮沟信息骨架图。采用视觉分析和定量分析对提取的潮沟信息进行精度评价。结果表明,最大类间方差法和数学形态学的结合对潮沟信息提取有较好的效果,平均准确度达到93.0%,遗漏误差和冗余误差分别为7.0%和0.5%。     

Magnetic field studies at jupiter by voyager 2: preliminary results

Data from the Goddard Space Flight Center magnetometers on Voyager 2 have yielded on inbound trajectory observations of multiple crossings of the bow shock and magnetosphere near the Jupiter-sun line at radial distances of 99 to 66 Jupiter radii (RJ) and 72 to 62 RJ, respectively. While outbound at a local hour angle of 0300, these distances increase appreciably so that at the time of writing only the magnetopause has been observed between 160 and 185 RJ. These results and the magnetic field geometry confirm the earlier conclusion from Voyager I studies that Jupiter has an enormous magnetic tail, approximately 300 to 400 RJ in diameter, trailing behind the planet with respect to the supersonic flow of the solar wind. Addi- tional observations of the distortion of the inner magnetosphere by a concentrated plasma show a spatial merging of the equatorial magnetodisk current with the cur- rent sheet in the magnetic tail. The spacecraft passed within 62,000 kilometers of Ganymede (radius = 2,635 kilometers) and observed characteristic fluctuations in- terpreted tentatively as being due to disturbances arising from the interaction of the Jovian magnetosphere with Ganymede.     

Structure and formation of the lunar farside highlands

The formation of the lunar farside highlands has long been an open problem in lunar science. We show that much of the topography and crustal thickness in this terrain can be described by a degree-2 harmonic. No other portion of the Moon exhibits comparable degree-2 structure. The quantified structure of the farside highlands unites them with the nearside and suggests a relation between lunar crustal structure, nearside volcanism, and heat-producing elements. The farside topography cannot be explained by a frozen-in tidal bulge. However, the farside crustal thickness and the topography it produces may have been caused by spatial variations in tidal heating when the ancient crust was decoupled from the mantle by a liquid magma ocean, similar to Europa's present ice shell.     

Ephemeral Natural Satellites of the Earth

A discussion is presented of transient or short-lived natural satellites of the earth, which result from meteorites that only graze our atmosphere. Preliminary calculations show that only about 0.2 percent of the total number of the porous, stony meteorites which strike the earth will result in natural satellites. It is noted that such satellites also would be difficult to detect observationally.     

Microearthquakes at st. Augustine volcano, alaska, triggered by Earth tides

Microearthquake activity at St. Augustine volcano, located at the mouth of Cook Inlet in the Aleutian Islands, has been monitored since August 1970. Both before and after minor eruptive activity on 7 October 1971, numerous shallow-foci microearthquake swarms were recorded. Plots of the hourly frequency of microearthquakes often show a diurnal peaking of activity. A cross correlation of this activity with the calculated magnitudes of tidal acceleration exhibited two prominent phase relationships. The first, and slightly more predominant, phase condition is a phase delay in the microearthquake activity of approximately 1 hour from the time of maximum tidal acceleration. This is thought to be a direct microearthquake-triggering effect caused by tidal stresses. The second is a phase delay in the microearthquake activity of approximately 5 hours, which correlates well with the time of maximum oceanic tidal loading. Correlation of the individual peaks of swarm activity with defined components of the tides suggests that it may be necessary for tidal stressing to have a preferential orientation in order to be an effective trigger of microearthquakes.