[X] My Assistant

[Guest_AlexBlackwell_*]

Although the mission description document for the upcoming (February 27, 2006) T11 flyby hasn't been released to the public yet, here are the science highlights:

Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) – will perform a global-scale mosaic of the sub-Saturnian hemisphere: covering the equatorial region from Fensal/Quivira/Aztlan to Aaru, and Tsegihi in the south. ISS also has a mosaic that ranges from the regional scale to high resolution and includes the southern part of Aztlan, the eastern part of Shiwanni Virgae, and Elba Facula. The closer mosaic will have pixel scales ~600-350 m.

Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) –will obtain information on trace constituents in Titan's stratosphere. Integrate on limb at two positions POINTING: Obtain information on CO, HCN, CH4. Integrate on disk at airmass 1.5-2.0. POINTING: -y to Titan, x away from sun.

Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (UVIS) – will perform a global spectral map to study aerosol scattering and hydrocarbon absorption and distribution. This will also be UVIS’ first solar occultation. With the solar occultation UVIS can observe the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectrum below 110 nm and can sample opacity from nitrogen and methane and possibly some other hydrocarbons.

Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) – will obtain new high resolution images that will help understand Titan's geology and the fate of CH4.

Magnetometer (MAG) - will take advantage of this encounter being upstream of the Titan/magnetospheric interaction. The spacecraft will fly through Titan’s middle ionosphere. Together with the T8 and T6 flybys, T11 will allow MAG to reconstruct the upstream equatorial ionospheric pile-up region.

Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI) – will investigate micro-scale and near aspects of the Titan interaction by observing during about one hour period around an encounter. With -Y pointed toward Titan, when within 30 minutes of the targeted flyby, optimize secondary axis for co-rotation flow as close to the S/C -X, +/- Z plane as works with the other constraints on pointing. Also, measure Titan exosphere/magnetosphere interaction by imaging in ENA with INCA (when sun is not in INCA FOV).

Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) – will obtain data regarding Titan’s atmospheric and ionospheric composition and thermal structure. INMS will also observe the magnetospheric/ionospheric interaction.

Radio and Plasma Wave Spectrometer (RPWS) – will study the interaction of the magnetosphere with Titan at intermediate distances for evidence of ion pickup, radio emissions, density profiles, and the general wave environment.

Radio Science (RSS) – will perform two Gravity Science Enhancement (GSE) passes occurring after the flyby in order to answer the question of whether Titan possesses an internal ocean. The GSE passes are crucial to de-correlate Titan's GM from the distance at closest approach.

[JRehling]

... covering the equatorial region from Fensal/Quivira/Aztlan...

They really need one name for this region -- something more formal than "H". I applaud the cultural diversity on a globewide basis, but they might have used similar-culture names for the features of the H. This German-Latin-Aztec combo is amusing, and it may grow on me, but it's kind of odd. It reminds me of a Steven Wright joke with the punchline "Bucky Goldstein."

[Guest_AlexBlackwell_*]

Magnetometer (MAG) - will take advantage of this encounter being upstream of the Titan/magnetospheric interaction.  The spacecraft will fly through Titan’s middle ionosphere. Together with the T8 and T6 flybys, T11 will allow MAG to reconstruct the upstream equatorial ionospheric pile-up region.

Note: I changed the passage above (viz., "...with the T8 and T6 flybys, T11 will allow MAG...") from the document I quoted. The original passage listed T10 instead of T11. Assuming it was a misprint, I changed it.

[volcanopele]

They really need one name for this region -- something more formal than "H". I applaud the cultural diversity on a globewide basis, but they might have used similar-culture names for the features of the H. This German-Latin-Aztec combo is amusing, and it may grow on me, but it's kind of odd. It reminds me of a Steven Wright joke with the punchline "Bucky Goldstein."

We pushed for a single name for the dark "H" feature and another name for the dark region surrounding Elba Facula, but it didn't come to pass. Still the H is only Fensal-Aztlan with Quivira being a bright feature within Fensal-Aztlan.

[Guest_AlexBlackwell_*]

The T11 flyby page is up.

[remcook]

"Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) –will obtain information on trace constituents in Titan's stratosphere. Integrate on limb at two positions POINTING: Obtain information on CO, HCN, CH4. Integrate on disk at airmass 1.5-2.0. POINTING: -y to Titan, x away from sun."

I see only nadcomps in the list unfortunately

[ugordan]

It's disturbing to see so many typos in these mission descriptions lately. Someone should really pass them through a spell-checker before release.

[Big_Gazza]

Titan flyby imagery coming through.

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...eiImageID=64404

New territory to the east of Fensal Aztlan region.

POP

Thats the champagne cork....

[SFJCody]

Looks like there are a few new faculae to be named in Aaru - Senkyo... and something visible in RGB over Aaru?

[ugordan]

and something visible in RGB over Aaru?

Those are imaging artifacts, I've seen the cloud-like feature on several previous flybys and it always appears at that position. It's plainly visible probably due to heavy histogram stretching by the raw image generator and should go away once the image is properly corrected for flatfield/dust ring effects.

[alan]

Titan behind rings
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...eiImageID=61037

Oops, thats from last month

[Decepticon]

I wonder if JPL is using a new technique? These images look very sharp for Raw images!

After the processing is done this should look Marvelous!

[volcanopele]

I wonder if JPL is using a new technique? These images look very sharp for Raw images!

After the processing is done this should look Marvelous!

BTW, a short burst from our REGMAP001 observation is now on the ground and in the JPL raw images page.

[RedSky]

New Titan raw images starting to appear. Lots of details...

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...eiImageID=64404

Ed: Sorry... didn't see this was already posted.

[alan]

Some new areas visible
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...8/W00013659.jpg
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...8/N00051531.jpg
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...8/N00051615.jpg
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...8/N00051560.jpg
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...8/N00051571.jpg
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...8/N00051564.jpg